‘Geofencing’ Can Help Hoboken Enforce E-Scooter Ban, CEO Says

HOBOKEN, NJ — Hoboken has already banned e-scooters from its waterfront and public parks in the name of safety. Now, the CEO of recently ousted Ojo wants to help the city enforce that ban… if they’ll give the company a second chance.

Last week, the Hoboken City Council voted to ban e-scooters from all city parks and northern and southern waterfront walkways. The council unanimously supported Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher's resolution, which will take effect for the remainder of the city's e-scooter pilot program until it ends on Nov. 20. (Read the full ordinance)

Fisher said the ban will help protect pedestrians – especially children and families – and reduce the burden on local police when it comes to enforcing e-scooter safety.

• See related article: Hoboken Bans E-Scooters At Waterfront Walkways, Public Parks

The e-scooter ban at the waterfront and parks came a week after Mayor Ravi Bhalla announced the city was canceling its contract with Ojo, one of two providers chosen as part of the pilot program.

Lime, the other e-scooter company chosen for the pilot, will be allowed to continue to operate in Hoboken, Bhalla said.

• See related article: Curtains For Ojo In Hoboken; City Cancels E-Scooter Contract

Ojo CEO Max Smith – who has asked city officials to give the company another opportunity to operate in Hoboken – said he agrees with the ban, which was put into place a day after an e-scooter rider struck a mother walking her child in a stroller on 8th and Clinton streets.

“Everyone can agree that even as cities implement transformative transit options that make life a little easier for commuters, local residents and visitors, there are some places where it just doesn’t make sense to operate certain modes of transportation,” Smith said.

However, some Hoboken residents have questioned how the city plans to enforce the ban at the waterfront, a problem that technology can help to solve, Smith proposed.

The answer is simple, he said: geofencing.

“Our new V2 scooters, which are fully operational in Austin and Dallas, Texas and ready for demonstration here in Hoboken, utilize advanced geofence technology – including audible safety alerts – that enable us to automatically turn off any scooters that are being ridden along the waterfront,” Smith said.

According to Smith, the V2 also features technology that forces the scooter to automatically slow down when necessary in order to remain at or under appropriate speed limits.

“Mind you these are not abrupt stops and slow-downs, but rather gradual in the interest of rider safety,” Smith said. “Additionally, built-in Bluetooth speakers ensure riders are kept clearly informed when maximum speed settings are being used in slow-ride zones. This means that if a rider in Hoboken were to attempt to operate an Ojo V2 scooter along the waterfront or in other areas deemed restricted by the city, the Ojo scooter would turn off within seconds, regardless of the rider’s own actions.”

The issue of riders taking to city sidewalks – a prohibited safety violation – is something that technology can’t solve yet, however, Smith said.

“Of course, we also recognize that additional enforcement is still needed to ensure that scooters are not operated on sidewalks – and we take that seriously,” he commented. “There is no technology available today that delineates sidewalk from street or bike lane, so enforcement is a must in any city, especially so here in Hoboken.”

Smith said that Ojo is willing to “keep the conversation going” with Hoboken officials.

“As I stated during my appearance before the council last week, Ojo wants to be a part of the solution,” Smith said.

• See related article: Ojo Was 'Good Partner' To Hoboken On E-Scooter Pilot, Official Says

Don’t forget to visit the Patch Hoboken Facebook page. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site. Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com