Lethbridge approves pilot program for micro-mobility (e-scooters)
Tuesday, Lethbridge City Council voted unanimously to proceed with a micro-mobility pilot project for citizens to rent battery-powered e-scooters.
Riders would use a smartphone app to locate, pay for and unlock a ridable device, ride around town, and then park the e-scooter when finished.
“We would probably start it fairly small in the city until we see where the demand is. The timeline is still up in the air a little bit…whether it’s this summer or next spring,” says Lethbridge transportation engineer, Adam St. Amant
“It’s an idea that’s worth trying, and it is basically a trial. It can potentially increase the mobility of the guests and the people using the river valley,” says mayor Chris Spearman “what we’ve heard is, people that are more mobile actually access our businesses”.
The city is currently deciding which company to work with, but says it is a competitive process, citing logistics such as where the units could travel, as well as where they will park.
There would be no direct cost to the city to pilot this project, and the city would not be liable for any possible injuries sustained while riding.