The Magnolia City Council heard and mentioned on Monday a proposal from California-based firm Bird Rides, Inc., to associate the standup electric scooter with the town to operate a rental service in Magnolia.
The proposal — technically referred to as a memorandum of understating (MOU) between the town and the scooter firm – if handed, would enable the gadgets to be rented and ridden all through the town and be topic to the identical guidelines, laws, and journey entry as native cyclists.
According to the corporate’s web site, Bird Rides companions with cities throughout the nation to implement standup electric scooters as a type of “micromobility.” The enterprise affords leases by way of its cell app platform and collects scooters wherever they’re left round a metropolis. According to the app, the corporate fees a $1 rental price, plus 39 cents per mile.
Although the Magnolia City Council took no motion on the piece of enterprise Monday, the MOU was learn aloud and a brief dialogue on the matter occurred.
Magnolia Mayor Parnell Vann knowledgeable the Council that Bird Rides approached the town by way of its financial improvement workplace. The native chief said that he didn’t know a lot else in regards to the challenge aside from what was in the MOU, however famous {that a} comparable scooter program presently operates in El Dorado. The mayor additionally thought the Southern
Arkansas University campus space could be a really perfect place to home a scooter hub.
“We could base them at the university and encourage them to bring them downtown and continue to try to tie SAU into Magnolia,” mentioned Vann.
Alderman Steve Nipper famous that SAU has housed bicycles for college students for years, however not electric scooters.
Other council members added to the dialogue and said that comparable scooter applications are in style in bigger city areas in the area, together with Little Rock and Memphis.
Most of the subjects mentioned Monday, nevertheless, revolved round doable legal responsibility language in the deal, how the scooters could be collected and charged, and the way any guidelines on scooter journey may very well be enforced with a restricted police power with usually extra necessary issues at hand.
“I want to help the citizens that use this with gas being as high as it is, but I also don’t have the police manpower to be policing a bunch of scooters when I’ve got other issues,” mentioned Vann.
The MOU said that solely these 18 and older may experience or lease the scooters, however Alderman Steve Crowell famous that he had seen youthful teenagers driving and renting the scooters by way of the app.
Other language in the proposed Bird Rides MOU included the next:
— The settlement with the town would final till Dec. 31, 2022, and have an annual 12-month renewal
— The 12-month renewal might be voided if the town informs Bird Rides of the matter no less than 90 days earlier than renewal
— Either occasion can terminate the settlement with 30 days’ discover if the operation of the scooters is seen as unsafe or the service just isn’t sensible
— No one else can deploy a stand-up electric scooter sharing system in Magnolia
— The metropolis will regulate the scooters simply as it could bicycles, together with granting them the correct to experience in bike lanes and on the roadways
— Anyone beneath 18 driving the scooters might be fined by the town for violations
— Bird Rides will present simply seen contact data for scooter leases, relocation, or points with the gadgets
— The metropolis can select to stop hours of operation between midnight and 4 a.m., however in any other case, the scooters shall be obtainable 24 hours per day.
— Rider training shall be offered to renters by Bird Rides
— Bird Rides will present information sharing to the town to monitor how a lot the scooter program is getting used
— Bird Rides is absolved of any damages if the town is deemed to be at fault in an incident
— The metropolis can’t enter into any damage judgment or settlement with out prior consent from Bird Rides and Bird Rides Bird Rides shall present the town with proof of legal responsibility insurance coverage protection for scooter use
— Bird Rides negligence compensation obligation doesn’t prolong to metropolis brokers, staff, or associates
— Bird Rides is absolved from any compensation for loss or injury if the matter was attributable to the town’s negligence or upkeep of public infrastructure
— Bird Rides can use impartial logistics suppliers to facilitate native operations
— All notices to the town shall be made in writing
— Bird Rides stays an impartial contractor with the town’s partnership
After the MOU was learn, City Attorney Jennifer McKendree famous that the town’s bicycle codes may have to be reviewed to apply to the scooters. She additionally instructed implementing the midnight to 4 a.m. shutdown of scooters.
Although no motion was taken on the scooter situation this week, the matter will probably seem on the Magnolia City Council’s agenda for a possible vote in July.