2022 - 2023 Dockless Scooter Pilot Study
The City of Milwaukee Department of Public Works launched the 2022 - 2023 Dockless Scooter Pilot Study in early September. The pilot will end on December 31, 2023. Three companies - Lime, Spin, and Veo - are participating in the study. DPW staff are evaluating the study on an ongoing basis through public surveys, goals analysis, ridership, and more.
Pilot Study Goals
- Provide equitable transportation services
- Increase transportation options
- Evaluate impacts on access to the public right of way
Ride Data:
Ride Report Open Data Portal
| |
March |
April |
May |
| Total rides |
7,347 |
56,023 |
71,405 |
| Median trip time |
7 minutes |
8 minutes |
8 minutes |
| Average trip distance |
0.7 miles |
0.9 miles |
1.0 mile |
| Day with highest ride |
Friday, March 31st (626 trips) |
Saturday, April 15th (5,629 trips) |
Sunday, May 28th (4,150 trips) |
| City-reported complaints |
3 |
12 |
4 |
| Number of complaints to companies |
20 |
25 |
na |
Safe Riding
Riding is prohibited on the riverwalk and all sidewalks
Follow the rules of the road
Park your scooter in a way that people with wheelchairs, strollers, or other mobility devices/needs can access the sidewalk and crosswalk.
Don't block curb ramps, transit stops, driveways, or alleys
If you're driving a car - gives scooters and bikes at leasat 3' when passing. Make sure to look for people scooting, biking, or walking when turning your vehicle.
Pro tip: when exiting your parked car, open the door with your right hand so you automatically look over your shoulder for people scooting or biking.
Discounted Rate Program
If you qualify for federal and/or local assistance, you likely qualify for discounter scooter rates! Lime, Spin, and Veo offer discounted rate programs and ways to participate without a smartphone and with a cash payment option. Click the links to apply and learn more.
Lime Spin Veo
Scooter Issues? Report it.
Please contact scooter operators directly for complaints related to parking or other issues related to a single operator. For general questions, feedback, or complaints about the program, contact Kate Riordan ([email protected]).
You can additionally access this information through the following ways:
- Visiting milwaukee.gov/ScooterOperators
- Calling 414-286-CITY (2489) and selecting the appropriate menu option
- Using the Milwaukee Mobile Action app and selecting "Dockless Scooter Issues"
Adaptive Scooters
As part of this pilot study, operators will offer a fleet of adaptive dockless scooters for people of varying abilities. These adaptive scooters may feature seats, wider wheels, wider baseboard, and/or other accessible features. Additionally, operators will partner with a community organization that serves people with physical disabilites to connect with the limited mobility community, spread information on accessible scooter options, and learn how to better adapt services for people with varying abilities. See below on how each operator addresses adaptive scooters:
Lime offers sit-down scooters through its Lime Assist reservation and delivery program. Users reserve a sit-down scooter at least 48 hours in advance through Lime Assist and schedule a delivery period. Additionally, sit-down scooters can be accessed in-person and without a smartphone at Independence First at 540 S. 1st Street.
Spin's adaptive sit-down scooters can be found in the street in the same way as their traditional scooters. Additionally, if a user has a request for deployment at a specific location, this can be arranged in advance by calling (1-888-249-9698) or e-mailing ([email protected]) Spin's cusomter support team. From there, the internal operations team will ensure proper delivery of a device to the user.
Veo offers the Cosmo adaptive seated scooter, which comes with a seat that is integrated into the scooter frame, wider wheels, and a wider baseboard designed to safely accommodate a seated, forward-facing riding position. Veo's Cosmo adaptive seated scooter is available on-demand in the Veo App.
FAQs
How do I find and ride a scooter?
Each operator has its own smartphone app. Downloading the app and creating an account prior to your ride with save time. Once you have the app, you can locate and unlock scooters using your phone.
How do I unlock and use a scooter without a smartphone?
The only Lime scooters available without a smartphone are Lime's adaptive scooters. Users can request adaptive vehicles from Lime's website, or in person at Independence First, 540 S. 1st St., Milwaukee, WI 53204 (if available).
Spin Cash Cards are available for purchase at the Spin warehouse. Riders can use the cash cards to unlock Spin e-scooters via a text-to-unlock function. Please e-mail [email protected] to arrange a time to purchase a cash card at the Milwaukee warehouse.
Veo’s 24/7 Customer Support, available by calling (855) 836-2256, helps users: 1) Locate vehicles; 2) Load ride credits; 3) Check credit balance; 4) Sign up for Veo Access; 5) Unlock/lock a scooter; and 6) Report issues to customer support.
Who owns the scooters?
The scooters are privately owned and rented our by the minute using a smartphone app. Three companies rent electric scooters within the city of Milwaukee: Lime, Spin, and Veo.
What is being done to address sidewalk riding?
- Each rider receives an in-app notification that says "sidewalk riding is illegal" before beginning a ride
- Each operator has committed to deploying sidewalk riding detection technology that is required to function on specific street segments
- DPW is verifying a sidewalk riding compliance through in-field checks at 38 of the city's highest riding locations. The team will observe scooters for four hours during peak riding periods at each location (two hours over two separate days to reduce the likelihood of outlier events)
Application Materials for Scooter Operators
Note: Applications are no longer being accepted for this pilot study. The following information is for reference only.
Application
Request for Proposals
Terms and Conditions
Appendix A: Service Zone Map
Map Layers
Note: clicking links will download a file; additional file types available by emailing Kate Riordan ([email protected])
Service Zones 1 - 6
Milwaukee City Limit
Google Map of Scooter Zones 1 - 6