Well, it was fun or extremely irritating (choose your own feeling) while it lasted, but Lime and Bird electric scooters will have to be removed from Denver's streets.
Denver Public Works today gave both companies an Order for Immediate removal of their scooters from the public right of way, according to a press release.
The release also says that anyone using Lime or Bird scooters "should be aware that, via city rules and ordinances, these scooters are not allowed to operate in the roadway except to cross the street at an intersection, nor are they allowed in bike lanes, on the city’s trail system, or in city parks."
So if you're going to ride a Lime or Bird scooter, you better do it on the sidewalk. (Safely and slowly because, you know, people are walking here.)
When Lime rolled out (sorry) its dockless electric scooters last Friday afternoon, the city was caught somewhat off guard. Public Works tweeted at the time that it was not consulted about the launch or made aware of Lime’s plans until a couple of days before it happened, adding, "we are concerned about the use, placement, & quantity of these scooters operating on Denver’s sidewalks where we see lots of peds.”
Bird's dockless electric scooters arrived today.
The department gave Lime and Bird notice this afternoon that they're in violation of Denver Revised Municipal Code Chapter 49, Article IX, "which states it is unlawful to utilize any street, alley, sidewalk, parkway or other public place for the storage of goods, wares or merchandise," the release said.
The city will remove any scooters left unattended in the public right of way and will be developing regulations for dockless transportation.
