E-Scooter Pilot Program Feedback Sought In Vienna

VIENNA, VA — The Town of Vienna will hold a meeting on the proposed pilot program regulating shared mobility devices, most commonly seen in the form of e-scooters. The Transportation Safety Commission meeting is scheduled for 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 29 at Town Hall.

Residents can hear about the proposed program at the meeting and give feedback. If you can't make the meeting, email comments to TSC@viennava.gov.

The start and end dates of the pilot program have not been set, but the town anticipates launching it in 2019 and wrapping up in 2020. An evaluation and community feedback period would follow in spring 2020.

Under the pilot program, companies would sign a memorandum of understanding detailing the town's regulations. Companies must provide information on identifying and addressing issues, deployment locations, rebalancing strategies, proof of insurance and more. A one-time $5,000 permit fee and monthly $0.05-per-trip right of way use fee will be paid by companies. Companies must have an operations center in the DC region and a 24/7 customer service phone line.

Each company could deploy up to 150 devices in Vienna. If the company can demonstrate at least three daily trips per device in the previous month, it can add up to 25 more devices per month.

Vienna's proposed program comes after the City of Fairfax launched its own e-scooter pilot program and Fairfax County works on its own ordinance. Other jurisdictions with programs are Alexandria, Arlington County, DC and Montgomery County, Maryland.

Under a 2019 Virginia law, localities can regulate the operation of these devices. Starting on Jan. 1, 2020, these devices will be allowed even if the localities do not establish a regulation program.