Denver Public Works will reopen the floodgates for three scooter-share companies that have proved their worth on Denver's streets.
Data released by the streets department Wednesday show more than 800,000 rides logged since e-scooters got legal last August. Riders have scooted nearly 1 million miles.
Lime, Lyft and Bird are eligible to increase their fleets by 25 percent because of their use. That's 88 more scooters for each company and 264 total if the startups take the offer. More people would ride more often if additional e-scooters and e-bikes were available, according to city's survey results.
People use the electric, dockless bike-share companies less, according to the data, with 58,000 rides logged and about 90,000 miles traveled.
Public works staffers originally promoted the untethered vehicles as a connector to Denver's bus and train network. Of the users surveyed, 19 percent reported using e-scooters and e-bikes with transit at least once a week, with 37 percent reporting they use the vehicles with transit less than once a week.
Some riders replace car trips with scooters and bikes, but more users replaced walking trips, according to DPW.
Update: Due to a typo, this story originally stated data showed more than 8,000 scooter rides had been logged.
