Due to the growing use of electric scooters, or “e-scooters,” nationwide, several partners in the Greater Des Moines region are exploring options for regulations that would be appropriate for privately owned e-scooters, as well as preparing for the possibility of an e-scooter share program.
Public Survey
A survey has been opened to the general public to ensure input from all community stakeholders. The deadline to submit the survey is Sunday, January 19.
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A handful of community organizations began discussions in the summer of 2019 to prepare for the increasing adoption of e-scooters as a mode of transportation. Those organizations include the Greater Des Moines Partnership, the Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority (DART), the Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), Operation Downtown, and the Street Collective of Greater Des Moines.
Additionally, the partners are working very closely with City of Des Moines staff and elected officials. Any e-scooter program or regulations within the City limits will ultimately be decided by the Des Moines City Council.
Process
There could be as many as four phases in the planning process.
- Fact-Finding, including stakeholder input and information from possible vendors of a scooter share program.
- Develop Recommendations, including potential code changes, defining roles and resources, and program criteria for a possible pilot program of an e-scooter share program.
If there is support for pursuing a pilot program for an e-scooter share program, then the process would continue.
- Determine Pilot Program, including possible code changes, selecting a vendor through a request-for-proposal (RFP), and the issuance of a temporary permit for the pilot program.
- Operate Pilot Program, including the enforcement of permit regulations, customer service, and the collection and evaluation of data.
If the pilot program is deemed successful, then the planning organizations, together with the City of Des Moines, would work to define how a permanent e-scooter share program would function.
Presentation
The following presentation was given to the Des Moines City Council in the fall of 2019 to begin discussions with the City, and it is offered here for public reference.
More Information
For more information, please call or email the Des Moines Area MPO at 515-334-0075 or info@dmampo.org.