Council To Consider Dockless Bikes, Scooters In Alexandria

Alexandria City Council will consider allowing dockless scooters and bicycles in the city for a nine-month pilot program at its Tuesday, Nov. 13 meeting. The city aims for a start date in November in December, according to a presentation for City Council.

The rentable dockless devices are similar to Capital Bikeshare, but they aren't locked in a dock. Rather customers can find the devices on designated sidewalk areas and pay to unlock the device through an app. The dockless bikes are provided by private companies.

Alexandria's program would allow up to 200 total devices per company. It also designates specific riding areas that companies should communicate to riders. Bikes are good to ride on streets, trails and most sidewalks (aside from some sections of King and Union Streets). Electronic bikes and electronic scooters would not be allowed on Mount Vernon Trail and other designated pedestrian-only trails. Scooters would not be allowed to ride on sidewalks.

Devices would need to be parked to maintain a five-foot clear pedestrian zone and cannot block access by any other person or transportation mode. The devices cannot block access to travel lanes, driveways, sidewalks and ramps, fire hydrants, parked cars, bus stops and building entrances

Currently the dockless devices aren't allowed on Alexandria property, although some are appearing on the streets. That's likely due to pilot programs kicking off in Washington, DC, Arlington County and Montgomery County, Md. Arlington approved the program to start in October. DC could consider a permanent program in January.

The city held a dockless device demonstration last month and received nearly 500 responses on its survey.

After the nine-month pilot program is up, City Council could consider permanent rules for dockless devices in fall 2019. That is, unless the state legislature doesn't take action, according to WTOP.

Image: LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 09: A Lime dockless electric scooter is parked on a Wilshire Boulevard sidewalk, available for its next rider, on July 9, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. Uber Technologies Inc. is investing with others in a $335 million round of financing in the San Francisco based e-scooter and bikeshare startup. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)