A “micro-mobility” company Spin, which was acquired recently by Ford, has launched a new fleet of e-scooters in D.C. Spin is the 5th scooter company that will operate its e-bikes in the city.
The new scooter rides will cost $1 to unlock, and 15 cents thereafter for every fifteen minute ride.
Lyft, another scooter company, also recently began operating in the city. Scooters are also offered for rides by companies like Lime, Bird, and Skip. Jump, which is owned by Uber, also has its own fleet of e-bikes on the city roads.
Earlier this month, the District announced new and permanent regulations for dockless bikes that will come into effect from 2019. Under the new regulations, the scooter companies can have more vehicles – from 400 to 600 – but the scooter speeds have to be limited to 10 miles per hour.
However, the new rules have not done down with several scooter companies. In a letter sent to D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, Bird asked for her intervention, pointing out that the cap on vehicles will “render it impossible for any provider to serve the D.C. community.” Lime also wants Bowser and DDOT to intervene and raise the speed limit.
The new entrant Spin focused on the speed limit. In a statement, the company said that they see no problems in having operators capped at 600 vehicles in DC, adding that the city understands demand and usage in service areas. “That said, we think that a 10mph speed limit for electric scooters is the wrong way to address the District’s safety concerns about electric scooters–and may actually deter usage of an electric vehicle that is designed to quickly take people their first- and last-mile,” the statement added.
For now about 100 scooters have been placed on D.C. roads by Spin. By the year end the company is aiming to make available 400 scooters for city users.
New Rules, Fee for Dockless Bikes and Scooter Companies in DC