City of West Hollywood Launches ‘Dockless Mobility’ Pilot Program with E-Scooters and E-Bikes from Bird, Lime, and Wheels.
Starting July 1, E-Scooters and E-Bikes will be supported in the City’s Transportation Network, providing enhanced mobility for West Hollywood’s residents, businesses, and visitors.
A pilot program launch ceremony is anticipated to take place in August 2021.
The City of West Hollywood will permit the use and operation of e-scooters and e-bikes starting Thursday, July 1, 2021. Currently, Lime and Bird will operate e-scooters; Wheels will operate Class-2 throttle assist e-bikes.
The pilot program is part of the City of West Hollywood’s efforts to expand its transportation network by supporting a range of environmentally sustainable options to get around the City and to connect to the region-at-large. The City of West Hollywood works regularly with residents, businesses, and the community-at-large to develop innovative solutions to transportation challenges and to balance the needs of people who walk, bike, use transit, and drive in the City of West Hollywood.
West Hollywood has been voted The Most Walkable City in California by Walk Score, a service that helps promote walkable neighborhoods across the country. Dockless Mobility devices add to the mix by assisting community members in addressing the challenge of “first-mile; last-mile” connectivity to existing transit stops and hubs in the transportation network and will help with car-free local neighborhood-oriented trips.
While e-scooters and e-bikes will be dockless, to ensure they are parked safely and legally, the City of West Hollywood’s Long Range Planning Division and Parking Services Division have collaborated in the development of several designated Dockless Mobility device parking stations throughout the City of West Hollywood. While the City encourages the use of the stations for parking, devices may be parked in any off-street location that does not block pedestrian access to the sidewalk; devices should never be parked in a way that blocks pedestrian activity and access.
Designated parking locations (there is an interactive map) will be marked with visual enhancements during July 2021, and will be in the public-right-of-way (sidewalk areas, providing for sufficient ADA access to pedestrians) adjacent to major intersections.
Users of e-scooters and e-bikes must have a valid driver license or instructional permit and must wear a helmet while riding. Only one person is allowed on a device at a time and e-scooters and e-bikes must be ridden on the road, never on the sidewalk. Users are advised to ride as far to the right side of the traffic lane or in designated and marked bike lanes whenever possible and users must always ride in the direction of traffic.
