Possible Return of Electric Scooters in Chicago
Row of electric scooters. Photo by Christian Bueltemann.
Get your helmets ready because another e-scooter trail may be coming back to Chicago sometime in 2020.
The initial electric scooter pilot began on June 15, 2019 and lasted until Oct, 15, 2019. According to a press release from the Mayor’s Press Office, a total 821,615 rides were initiated during the four month trial. And although there were nearly 200 scooter related injuries during the trail residents wanted the e-scooter program to continue.
“59 percent of survey respondents answered that shared e-scooter companies should continue operating in Chicago,” said the press release.
In the original pilot the city created a map detailing a selected area where electric scooters could be ridden and labeled two sections as ‘Priority Areas’ because of the lack of transport options. The South Priority area includes neighborhoods such as: North Lawndale, Austin, Garfield Park and Little Village. The North Priority Area consists of Humboldt Park, Logan Square, Hermosa and Belmont Cragin.
Map rendering of the 2019 scooter pilot area and ‘L’ railways. Photo from the ‘E-SCOOTER PILOT EVALUATION.’
A large part for the resurrection of the program is to further study the impact of alternative transportation methods on the city's West Side. According to a survey conducted by the city 77 percent of rides were centered in the eastern part of the pilot area. The second trail would further access if e-scooters are a viable method of transportation for West Side communities.
According to the press release the second trail would, “further test the benefits of this project in other community landscapes. This second pilot is necessary to determine proper regulations for this emerging and evolving business activity that balance the mobility goals of the city with the need for safe and responsible regulations.”
While the press release called for the need for a second pilot, no dates have been set for the future test run.