FAIRFIELD — Downtown Fairfield might need a bit extra buzzing, or possibly whirring, after the selectmen agreed to affix a pilot program that will make dozens of electric scooters out there for folks to borrow on the town.
Mark Barnhart, the city’s director of group and financial improvement, stated officers had been trying on the program with Bird Rides Inc. for a while and spoke with different communities about their expertise with having electric scooters on the town.
The contract, which the Board of Selectmen authorised this week, permits Bird Rides to function in Fairfield for 12 months. That would give the city the chance to judge client demand, in addition to assess any operational points, Barnhart stated on the latest BOS assembly.
“We have been looking at Bird for some time now,” he stated. “One of the things with Bird is that they provide a local fleet manager that is responsible for overseeing the fleet. Bird is also more responsible to smaller communities in providing smaller fleets that are more appropriate for communities of this size.”
Barnhart stated his workplace proposed an preliminary fleet of fifty to 75 electric scooters that will be out there for the general public to hire. Last month, Ansonia’s Board of Aldermen authorised an identical contract to carry the scooters there.
A neighborhood supervisor can be within the space to verify the scooters are maintained, charged relocated after they have to be, Barnhart stated.
There just isn’t value to the city. The settlement really contains modest revenue sharing, Barnhart stated
“They will provide the standard insurance and identification requirements consistent with our requirements,” he stated.
Kupchick stated her administration was skeptical at first, and requested Barnhart’s workplace the identical query she was positive the general public would.
“Do we need these? We’ve all read articles and probably seen on the news. In some places they’ve been you just hear about them being dumped and left and they become a bit of a nuisance,” she stated. “We asked all those questions when it was first proposed to us.”
Kupchick stated officers felt like it might be an fascinating factor to strive after Bird Rides answered their questions.
Barnhart stated his workplace had talked to different communities on this program as far-off as Kansas or North Carolina and as near dwelling as New York and Connecticut about their experiences.
“We’ve gotten favorable comments and reviews in terms of Bird’s responsiveness,” he stated.
He additionally famous each Police Chief Robert Kalamaras and Fairfield’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee help making an attempt the program.
Barnhart stated a pilot can be an effective way for the city to strive it out with out making a long-term dedication.
Selectwoman Nancy Lefkowitz stated she has each a wholesome optimism and skepticism of the program.
“I’m supportive of it, because I think we won’t know until we try it,” she stated. “I’ve been in communities where they’ve had successful programs and I’ve used the product, and I think it’s something that we should try to see — because why not? If it doesn’t work, hopefully we’ve lost nothing but time and the investment of some energy and some resources.”
joshua.labella@hearstmediact.com