'Slow Zone' For E-Scooters, E-Bikes Tested In Alexandria Neighborhood

ALEXANDRIA, VA — A pilot program to limit speeds of e-scooters and e-bikes below the speed limit has been launched in an area of Old Town Alexandria.

Starting Tuesday through May 21, e-scooters and e-bikes used in Old Town's Robinson Landing neighborhood are limited to speeds below the city's 15 mph maximum for these devices.

The slow zone will have an 8 mph limit on neighborhood streets, Point Lumley Park, and the nearby pedestrian walkway and promenade in the neighborhood. The speed limits are enforced through GPS technology.

The goal of the slow zone pilot program is to boost street and sidewalk safety. A 2019 evaluation report for the city's dockless mobility program recommended evaluating uses of slow zones to address conflicts between riders and pedestrians in high-traffic areas.

Dockless devices, or shared devices like bikes and scooters, can be rented by riders through an app. Riders typically use an app to unlock devices and drop them off at designated locations when finished. The dockless mobility device program started in January 2019 when the city issued the first permit for a company to bring the devices to Alexandria.

The city's permanent program was approved in November 2021 with five companies allowed to operate a certain amount of scooters or e-bikes in the city. The permits are good through March 31, 2023. New permits would be needed for companies to operate from April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024.

Alexandrians are encouraged to provided feedback on the new slow zone pilot program through May 21. Feedback will inform the next steps for the Robinson Landing slow zones and possibility of slow zones in other Alexandria locations.