Hoboken Rebooting E-Scooter Deals With Lime, Ojo Amid Complaints

HOBOKEN, NJ — Hoboken is rebooting its deals with the two e-scooter companies involved in the city’s pilot program due to “safety concerns,” officials say.

Last week, the city council unanimously approved a resolution that asks Mayor Ravi Bhalla – the official responsible for negotiating contracts on Hoboken’s behalf – to go back to the drawing board with Lime and Ojo, the companies selected to take part in the city’s six-month e-scooter pilot program.

• See related article: Hoboken 1st In New Jersey To Embrace E-Scooter 'Revolution'
• See related article: Hoboken Prepares For E-Scooters As Gov. Murphy Signs New Law

In a statement to the media, council members Tiffanie Fisher and Mike DeFusco said public safety concerns about the trial program fueled the resolution.

“While e-scooters have proven to be an attractive transportation alternative for many, it is clear that bringing them to our community has created serious public safety concerns and is straining city enforcement resources," DeFusco and Fisher said. "As council members, we share a commitment to improving transportation in Hoboken and believe that a well-managed, responsible e-scooter program has the potential to significantly reduce traffic and vehicle emissions by providing a viable alternative to driving."

Fisher and DeFusco continued:

"For the program to be successful in Hoboken, however, it must first and foremost be safe for our residents and those visiting our city. Any concession agreement with e-scooter providers should include a plan that prioritizes safety and provides additional revenue to the city to be used for enforcement and rider education. The current contracts are inadequate in these areas and therefore, we are calling on Mayor Bhalla to begin the process of renegotiating agreements with e-scooter vendors immediately, before the pilot program ends, to ensure everyone can benefit safely from taking cars off of our streets."

However – while sentiment behind the council resolution is appreciated – plans to rework the e-scooter contracts were already in motion before it was approved, a spokesperson for the mayor said.

“The city has been working diligently with the e-scooter companies on renegotiated contracts that provides significant financial resources to improving enforcement and safety,” he said. “It has been in the works weeks before the press release was sent, although we do appreciate the council’s interest in the matter.”

Bhalla’s office anticipates the amended contracts will be presented for the council’s consideration at their next meeting.

In June, the council voted down a proposal backed by Bhalla that would have put forth a non-binding ballot question about the e-scooter pilot to local residents in November’s election.

• See related article: Should Hoboken Voters Decide Fate Of City's E-Scooter Program?

'WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH CITY OFFICIALS'

A spokesperson for Ojo, which was initially permitted for 50 scooters in Hoboken, offered Patch the following statement on Tuesday:

“Since the launch of the pilot program in May, OjO has had ongoing discussions with the mayor's office and city officials regarding safety, rider education and economics. OjOs have been adopted very quickly in Hoboken and provide an alternative mobility solution. We are encouraged by the ridership data and use cases in the first 60 days, and will continue to work with city officials to ensure the safety of the public and make adjustments to the pilot as necessary, including contract terms. OjO prides itself on collaborating with cities to find the best solutions for the market, general public and OjO riders, and Hoboken is no exception.”

A spokesperson for Lime declined to offer comment about its contract with the city.

On July 2, just before the Independence Day holiday weekend, Lime issued a statement about extra safety-related steps it's taking in Hoboken. Those included:

• First Ride Academy - Lime's new scooter training course which teaches riders the proper way to ride a scooter in Hoboken, while familiarizing them with riding a scooter
• Enforcement measures – Lime said it will be taking steps to remove users from the platform for illegal behavior, and warning against underage riding with new placards on scooters and in-app messaging. “These users can be reported by alerting Lime of the time of day and ID number of the offending scooter,” the company stated.
• More street teams - Lime said it will have two tents and tables every day in Hoboken and will have 8-to-10-person foot patrol teams on the ground every day to remind riders to scoot safely and obey the rules of the road, as well as to rebalance scooters and keep them in properly parked locations.

E-SCOOTERS IN HOBOKEN

Hoboken’s e-scooter pilot launched in May and will continue until Nov. 20. (Learn how to safely ride one of the vehicles in Hoboken)

The suddenly ubiquitous devices are catching on like wildfire in the Mile Square City according to Lime, which saw the “highest ridership per scooter” in its worldwide markets after the pilot program launched.

City officials issued the following statistics about e-scooter usage in the city. (Story continues below)

As usage rates soar, city officials, Lime and Ojo have issued repeated calls for local e-scooter enthusiasts to travel safely, offering information about the proper way to ride and where to park.

• See related article: Hoboken Rolls Out E-Scooters (Learn The Rules Of The Road)

But despite the safety tips, social media reports of e-scooter riders putting others in danger have flooded the internet.

On June 19, an event that many people had been heralding finally took place: Hoboken’s first e-scooter-related arrest.

According to the Hoboken Police Department, while directing traffic in the area of Newark and Hudson Street at 12:43 p.m., an officer saw a man riding an e-scooter opposite the flow of traffic. As the officer watched, the rider struck a pedestrian in a crosswalk. When the officer stopped to help the pedestrian, the rider fled the scene on his e-scooter. Ignoring the officer's commands to stop, he continued riding away from the scene opposite the flow of traffic. Police eventually caught up and arrested him a short distance away, authorities said.

The pedestrian suffered an injured ankle, police said.

• See related article: Hoboken Sees First E-Scooter Rider Arrest Amid ‘Record’ Usage Rates

One of the most consistent online critics of the city’s pilot program has been the “Bad Scooterists Hoboken” Twitter account, which has released video of several alleged incidents of e-scooter misuse.

Other alleged misuses of e-scooters have included speeding and riding in prohibited areas, as well as leaving the devices parked in places they shouldn't be. Seen online:

Not all social media users have been critics of the new transportation devices, however.

In May, a rider posted a video of his first ride aboard a Lime scooter, which can be seen below.

“I saw much more dangerous and illegal activity from car drivers than scooter riders,” he wrote. “But sadly, I think most people are desensitized to the risk imposed by 2-ton metal vehicles often traveling up to 40 mph on dense urban streets like those in Hoboken and are more scared of new things like e-scooters traveling no more than 18 mph. Please keep an open mind about the e-scooters and don't let the small minority of idiots ruin this.”

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