Dockless Micromobility Regulatory FrameworkTransportation and Municipal Infrastructure CommitteeFebruary 5, 2019

Proposed Regulatory Framework

• Dockless Micromobility was introduced at the January 8th

committee meeting

• TMI committee members requested that staff develop a proposed framework and bring it back for discussion

• Proposed framework developed with input from City Attorney’s Office, Arlington PD, UTA, and interested Operators

Types of Devices Regulated

• Any form of dockless micromobilitydevice that may be rented for a period of time such as:

• Bicycles

• Electric Scooters

• Electric Bicycles

• Seated Low-Speed Electric Scooters

• Any other device that fits this model but is not yet commercially available

Pilot Program Timeframe

• Proposed Initial Pilot Program length: One Year

• Initial permit valid for 6 months

• Option to renew for an additional 6 months at no additional cost provided operator has demonstrated compliance with permit requirements

Permit Fees & Fleet Caps

• $500 Application Fee

• $25 per device fee for any electric micromobility device

• $10 per device for non-electric dockless bicycles

• 25 cent per trip fee to assist with enforcement costs

• $25 per device fee in the event of necessary relocation or impoundment by the City due to non-compliance with permit requirements

• Maximum of 100 dockless micromobility devices per operator allowed; any combination of modes/devices.

Fleet Standards

• Devices must meet all federal and state requirements for safety standards.

• Devices must have the emblem of the operator and current contact info including phone number and email address for relocation requests and maintenance concerns.

• Devices must be high quality and built to withstand effects of weather and constant use for a minimum of 3 years.

• Devices must have visible language posted on the device that notifies user helmet use is encouraged for all riders and required for those under 18 and that users must yield to pedestrians.

• Any device that is broken, damaged, or unsafe to operate must be disabled immediately upon report via the operator’s software application and physically removed within 24 hours.

• Speed of electric dockless micromobility devices must be capped at 12 MPH via the operator’s software application.

• Electric dockless micromobility fleets must be remotely disabled after sunset and before sunrise.

Fleet Standards

Operator Requirements

• Operators must provide monthly reports that capture data on usage, trip information, and other items of interest to the City.

• Customer service must be available during all hours of operation.

• Must provide contact where the City can reach operator for issue response, including a dedicated line for public safety official use to contact operators directly.

• Proof of liability insurance

• Surety Bond of $100 per device to assist with removal/disposal of devices and repair to city property in event of revocation of permit.

User Operation and Safety Requirements

• Helmets required for all persons under the age of 18.

• Operation is allowed only in dedicated bike lanes on roadways and on sidewalks at least 6’ in width.

• Speed of devices shall not exceed 12 MPH.

• Only one person may be on the device when it is being operated.

• Riders may not use a portable wireless communication device while operating a dockless micromobility device.

• Riders must be notified that they are subject to all traffic laws while riding on a public roadway.

• Riders must be notified that it is illegal to operate a device while intoxicated.

• Riders may not operate devices after sunset and before sunrise.

• Riders must be notified about device parking restrictions.

User Operation and Safety Requirements

Geographic Restrictions

• Operation and staging shall be restricted to the area surrounding Downtown Arlington and the University of Texas at Arlington campus.

• The specific boundaries are identified as:• West – Davis Drive/Fielder Road • East – Collins Street• North – Division Street• South – Park Row Drive

• Devices may be operated only on roadways with striped bike lanes (UTA Blvd. and Spaniolo Drive/Pecan Street only) or on sidewalks with widths of at least 6’

• Operation would be prohibited on Cooper, Abram, Collins, and Division streets and Park Row Drive, as well as any other roadway without a bike lane in the restricted area

Geographic RestrictionsNote: UT Arlington has jurisdiction over how devices operate on its campus

Fleet Staging

• Dockless micromobility devices may only be staged on:

• Sidewalks that are 8’ or wider with 5’ clear passage

• Public (City-owned) vehicle parking areas (e.g. parking lots), adhering to ADA requirements

• No staging on private property

• No more than 5 devices may be staged in one location at a time

• Concerns and complaints about staging issues must be resolved within 24 hours.

Fleet Rebalancing and User Parking

• Fleets must be rebalanced every 72 hours

• Devices parked by riders in residential areas that do not impede pedestrian or vehicular travel shall be allowed to remain in place for up to 24 hours. However, upon receiving any complaint or request, Operator shall relocate device to a staging area.

• Riders may not park the devices in these areas:• Areas not compliant with ADA requirements• Blocking ramps, access aisles, and parking areas• In roadways• Blocking clear passage on sidewalks (clear space of 5’)• Blocking access to buildings• Other areas that impede access or create fall or trip hazards

Operator Feedback

Operator Recommendations:

• Recommend per trip fee of 10 cents, not 25 cents

• Recommend no time-of-day restrictions on operation OR prohibit operation between 9 pm and 6 am

• Recommend either a larger fleet cap (e.g. 300 devices) OR a usage-based cap• Usage caps allow for a dynamic fleet based on device utilization• Example: for every month the fleet is 95% utilized, the operator can expand

the fleet by 25%

• Recommend allowable speeds of 15-20 mph

• Staging areas should be restricted geographically, but device operation should be allowed citywide. Operators will return all devices to the staging areas in the defined geographic zone.

UT Arlington Feedback

UT Arlington Recommendations:

• A hard fleet cap for all devices, inclusive of all operators, on campus (no more than 200 total devices on campus at any one time)

• Restrict access to certain high-traffic pedestrian areas, preferably by requiring operators to geo-fence areas on campus and remotely disable scooters from operating in those areas

• Require operators to give away a certain number of free helmets to riders based on number of devices in fleet

• UTA has specific device staging and parking requirements they would like operators to adhere to

• UTA would need to adopt their own regulations surrounding device staging, operation, and enforcement on campus• City would work with UTA to communicate requirements to operators

Discussion