White Center Area May Get Electric Scooter Share Program

WHITE CENTER, WA — Seattle is still studying whether to allow electric scooters in the city, but the rideshare vehicles might soon be available just over the border in unincorporated King County.

King County Councilman Joe McDermott will introduce legislation this week to establish a scooter share pilot program in the North Highline area, which includes White Center, Tophat, and Boulevard Park. Under the program, King County would offer two permits to scooter-share companies starting in November.

The two main scooter share companies are Lime — which offers its dockless e-bikes around the region — and Bird. In August, Redmond became the first city in King County to offer Lime scooters. Other cities in Washington with scooters include Tacoma, Bothell, Everett, and Spokane. Bird does not rent scooters in Washington yet.

Under the proposal, the scooters would likely be geo-fenced, so they would not work if taken outside the North Highline area.

Unlike dockless bikes, scooters have attracted controversy due to perceived safety issues. The Washington Post in 2018 reported a spike in emergency room visits linked to the vehicles, which can travel as fast as 15 MPH.

Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan opposed scooters when she first took office, although she has backed off that stance. At the end of August, the Seattle Department of Transportation began moving toward allowing scooters. SDOT is estimating a launch might not happen until spring 2020.

The ordinance introduced by McDermott, who represents District 8 from Vashon to West Seattle, would expire at the end of 2020, but leaves open the possibility of an extension. The scooter share proposal will be heard before the King County Council Mobility and Environment Committee on Tuesday afternoon.