Falls Church officials may take another shot at bringing shared-mobility devices — known to many as e-scooters — into the community next year.
The city’s Environmental Sustainability Council has been briefed on staff plans to bring the proposal to City Council members.
“There’s a few ways that we can move this forward,” said Kurt Lawrence, an environmental planner for the city government. He came to the commission meeting on Sept. 18 seeking ideas and general feedback.
Falls Church already has Capital Bikeshare stations, but an effort in 2019-20 to entice shared-mobility operators found no takers. Firms voiced concern about permitting costs and other regulations in the industry, which was still in its fledgling stage at the time.
In recent years, the governments of Arlington and Fairfax counties and the cities of Alexandria and Fairfax have approved processes to regulate shared-mobility devices in their jurisdictions. Because Falls Church has not, the city is a “no-go zone” for riders renting the vehicles in neighboring jurisdictions.
Recent Falls Church inquiries to seven national operators suggested that at least some would have interest in coming to the Little City.
“It seems like the industry has figured itself out a little bit,” Lawrence said. “People have kind of consolidated, and I think the industry is finding its way.”
Across Northern Virginia, four operators currently are permitted to operate in various jurisdictions:
- Lime: Can operate in Arlington, Alexandria and the city of Fairfax
- Bird: Can operate in Fairfax County, Arlington and the city of Fairfax
- Spin: Can operate in Arlington
- GCOO: Can operate in Alexandria
Members of the Environmental Sustainability Council offered general support for moving forward with a pilot program, although some expressed concerns about the lack of a helmet requirement, intoxicated riders and where the scooters could be parked. There is also the question of whether the vehicles could use sidewalks: some jurisdictions allow that, but others don’t.
With the feedback in hand, staff will “work on it a little more and then take it to Council,” Lawrence said. “Late spring as a goal [to start a pilot program] would be good.”
State law allows localities to encourage helmet use, but communities cannot require it. The minimum age for shared-mobility devices in state law is 14, but localities can set higher age limits.
Rather than setting up a pilot program, Council members could opt to move forward with a permanent ordinance allowing shared-mobility devices without a pilot. They also could decide not to move forward.
Lawrence said it is possible discussion on the concept could begin at the Council level sometime later in the fall, followed by crafting of an ordinance for consideration over the winter months.
