Cities across the country have cracked down on disruptive electric scooter programs. Now Columbus, OH, is reining in its chaotic fleet.
Downtown Idea Exchange newsletter reports that Columbus’ pool of bike and scooter rental services will be replaced next spring by a single vendor.
Veo, the new provider, operates a variety of traditional bicycles and e-bikes, plus standing and seated scooters. It will use a “hybrid parking system” designed to keep devices out of the way.
The new system incorporates AI technology into the end-of-ride process. When completing a trip, riders must use the app’s camera tool to show that their vehicle is properly parked. The AI then verifies in real-time whether the vehicle meets local parking regulations, only allowing the rider to end their trip once the vehicle is parked correctly.
Columbus has also approved its Bike Plus plan, which calls for adding 189 miles of on-street bikeways, 270 miles of shared-use paths, and 28 miles of urban trails and greenways.
More on downtowns coping with bike and scooter clutter appears in the pages of Downtown Idea Exchange newsletter.
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