SR 03-09-2021 7B
City Council Report
City Council Meeting: March 9, 2021
Agenda Item: 7.B
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To: Mayor and City Council
From: Edward F King, Director, Mobility (BBB)
Subject: Introduction and First Reading of Ordinances Extending the First Shared
Mobility Device Pilot Program, Repealing the Second Pilot Program, and
Amending SMMC to Remove Prohibition of Class I and Class II E-bikes on
the Beach Bike Path
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1) Introduce for first reading the proposed ordinance that: (a) amends Santa Monica
Municipal Code Section 3.21.090 to extend the maximum term of the first Shared
Mobility Device Pilot Program from April 30, 2021 to March 31, 2022;
(b) repeals Section 3.22 of the Santa Monica Municipal Code relating to a second
Shared Mobility Device Pilot Program; and (c) amends Santa Monica Municipal
Code Section 3.12.600 to remove the prohibition of Class I and Class II electric
bicycles on the Beach Bike Path.
2) Direct staff to solicit and negotiate a contracted model for shared mobility
services in Santa Monica and direct staff on outcome priorities to guide the
contract negotiation process.
Executive Summary
Santa Monica launched its first shared mobility pilot program for private companies in
September 2018, which was designed to test entirely new areas of policy, regulation,
operation, and enforcement for privately-operated shared mobility businesses.
Following the pilot evaluation report in January 2020, Council directed staff to create a
second pilot program that was set to launch on July 1, 2020. Due to COVID-19, Council
extended the first pilot to April 30, 2021 and postponed the second pilot program. Like
all aspects of life, shared mobility has been impacted by COVID-19 in a number of
ways:
• Jump and Lime left the Santa Monica market, reflecting the trend of some
companies downsizing and withdrawing from certain markets.
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• COVID-19 has slowed movement across all transportation modes. Between 2019
and 2020, shared mobility ridership is down 77%, parking transactions are down
52%, BBB ridership is down 59%.
• Companies are reducing staff, devices, and operations to cope with financial
stress.
• Pay-as-you-go user prices have increased to $1 to unlock and $0.39/minute.
• Other cities are extending programs or shifting from permitting to contracting
models to mitigate affordability concerns and volatility of service for customers.
• Cities are rethinking fee structures to drive user rates lower and help shared
mobility businesses though this difficult time.
Bird and Lyft have continued to operate in Santa Monica with reduced device numbers
and increased cleaning and safety protocols. These services have served as critical
transportation that helps support the more local/ outdoor lifestyle caused by the
pandemic, by giving people another option for short trips around town while adhering to
pandemic safety guidelines. Occurrences of haphazard parking and bad rider behavior
have dropped, and complaints related to shared mobility fell by 85 % in 2020 compared
to 2019.
The pandemic will continue to disrupt daily life and business for the next several
months, including causing uncertainty within the shared mobility industry. Staff
recommends that the program shift to a contracting model with shared mobility
companies in order to mitigate some of this volatility. In comparison to the current permit
model, contracting provides a stronger foundation for cities and companies to work
together toward improved outcomes achieved through defined service level standards,
incentives, penalties, and fees. Staff recommends prioritizing outcomes related to the
stability of local access, equitable distribution of devices, affordability, and diverse
outreach. Council input is requested on these priorities to guide next steps and help to
resolve tradeoffs when they arise.
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In support of this recommendation, staff proposes amending Santa Monica Municipal
Code (SMMC) Section 3.21.090 to extend the term of the first Shared Mobility Pilot
Program to March 31, 2022 and repealing Section 3.22 that enables the second permit-
based Shared Mobility Pilot Program. The extension will allow staff to complete a
procurement process to select shared mobility partners and to negotiate the terms of a
shared mobility contract agreement while also maintaining continuity of current services
with Bird and Lyft.
Staff also recommends amending Santa Monica Municipal Code Section 3.12.600 to
remove the prohibition of Class I and II electric bicycles on the Beach Bike Path. In
2018, the prohibition of these e-bikes on the Beach Bike Path was brought to Council to
be clarified because of congestion caused by new e-scooter and e-bike sharing and
safety concerns. Since then, the City has doubled the beach path capacity north of the
pier and implemented geo-fencing technology that keeps shared e-scooters and e-bikes
off the path. Many people still use their privately-owned e-bikes and other devices on
the path. This amendment will reopen the beach path to the growing number of people
riding Class I and II e-bikes for commuting and recreation.
Background Timeline
Meeting Date Description
September 2017 Bird, Inc. e-scooter sharing launched in Santa Monica.
June 26, 2018
(Attachment A)
Shared Mobility Pilot Program and fees to develop a new area
of policy, regulation, operation, and enforcement for shared
mobility devices in the City were approved.
August 28, 2018
(Attachment B)
Shared Mobility use of public right-of-way (PROW) fee to
create infrastructure to improve the safety for riders and
citywide streets was approved.
September 17, 2018 The Shared Mobility Pilot Program launched with Bird, Jump,
Lime and Lyft who were selected through a competitive
process.
November 12, 2019
(Attachment C)
Staff returned to Council to present pilot program
outcomes. The program showed high ridership and utilization,
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but challenges remained in rider behavior, PROW
management, and regulating the emerging industry.
January 28, 2020
(Attachment D)
Staff was directed to create a second shared mobility pilot
program to build on the successes of the program and better
address the persistent challenges.
February 11, 2020
(Attachment E)
The term of the first pilot program was extended and a
Request for Applications (RFA) to select shared mobility
operators for the second pilot program was released in March
2020.
May 12, 2020
(Attachment F)
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the second pilot program
was postponed and the first pilot program was extended until
April 30, 2021. The Share Mobility PROW fee was revised.
March and May of 2020 Lime and Jump, respectively, terminated service in Santa
Monica The remaining operators (Bird and Lyft) reduced their
fleet size, increased cleaning, and safety protocols for their
devices, and continued to operate as essential transportation
during response and recovery efforts.
November 2020 Lyft launched e-bikes that were originally permitted but not
initially launched.
Discussion
Since the 2015 launch of the City-owned Breeze Bike Share, shared mobility services
have been a valued component of Santa Monica’s local transportation options. Shared
mobility services can be ideal for Santa Monica because they provide flexibility, are
usable year-round, and feel safe for many people on the 100-mile bike network that was
built in the last 10 years.
New need for shared mobility partnership was created in November 2020. The City
sunset Breeze Bike Share due to considerable new financial constraints caused by
COVID-19, and the need to replace bikes due to wear and technology changes.
This ended the operating contract and generous title sponsorship from Hulu.
Shared bikes served millions of necessary trips and paved the way for how shared
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mobility could operate and give users a convenient, reliable, and affordable shared
mobility option.
The Shared Mobility Pilot Program was developed to test shared electric scooters and
bikes operated by private companies, using a flexible approach that could be
responsive to community needs, technological advancements, and an evolving industry.
Ridership of shared mobility devices was strong from the first month of the pilot
program, starting at 200,700 trips in November 2018, and reaching 344,700 trips in
August 2019. Riders generated a total of 3,050,000 trips in 2019. In rider surveys
conducted in January and June 2019 and December 2020, 49% and 42% of
respondents respectively reported that for their most recent scooter trip, they would
have otherwise traveled in a car (either drive alone or another car like Uber/Lyft). Santa
Monica residents accounted for 35% and LA County residents accounted for
approximately 40% of survey respondents in all three surveys.
Impacts of COVID-19 on Shared Mobility
Due to COVID-19, movement across all transportation modes has temporarily dropped.
Between April and November in 2020 compared to 2019, the City has seen a drop in
parking transactions of 52%, BBB ridership of 59%, and of shared mobility ridership of
77%. Yet, Santa Monica remains a strong shared mobility market. E-scooters and bikes
complement the growth in solo outdoor activities of COVID-19, and emphasis on local
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essential business activity and support for business recovery. The devices give
residents another option to access local businesses for quick trips.
The core of regular users that has come to rely on these services are continuing to ride,
even with the pandemic’s overall drop in shared mobility ridership. 42% of the
respondents from the most recent rider survey reported that they ride about the same
amount as they did before the pandemic started. 33% of respondents reported riding
more than once per week and 48% reported riding occasionally but less than once per
week.
The total number of devices permitted to operate in the City decreased from 3,250 to
2,000 during the pandemic due to Jump and Lime terminating service. This has ushered
in a period of improved conditions in the field, better alignment with administrative
capacity, and enforcement efficiency. During this time of slowdown, the City has
experienced a decrease in bad rider behavior and haphazard parking, which is largely
driven by the reduction in overall ridership, particularly among the tourist population and
first-time riders. Between April and December 2020, there was an 85% decrease in the
number of Santa Monica Works complaints about shared mobility services from the
same time period in 2019.
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Looking Forward on Shared Mobility
Looking forward, Santa Monica will continue to be impacted by private sector company
volatility as the industry adapts to financial challenges in the next year. Companies are
still largely dependent on private investment to sustain operations and are having to
adjust to reduced capital and investor demand. As ridership and rider revenue slowed,
many shared mobility operators have had to downsize and/or change operations. This
includes decreasing staffing and service levels and withdrawing from some markets.
These trends are causing cities to consider adjustments to regulatory and partnership
structures in order to ensure long-term reliable, consistent, available, and affordable
service.
Many cities are extending pilot programs or postponing the launch of new programs due
to current events. For example, San Francisco, San Diego, and Washington D.C.
recently approved extensions of their current programs. Other cities are shifting their
programs from permitting to contracted models to address operations cost and
affordability concerns and improve safety and reliability outcomes. For example,
following a second pilot program, Portland, Oregon has recommended moving to 2-3-
year contracts with one to three companies, and Denver is in contract negotiation with
two companies to operate both e-scooters and e-bikes.
Some cities that are continuing shared mobility permitting are exploring adjustments to
fee structures like shifting from per-device to per-trip fees or requiring performance
bonds in lieu of large annual fees. Cities that are considering contracted models for
shared mobility are exploring options to negotiate revenue generation and costs with
selected partner operators. For example, the Portland bike share system is largely
funded by a $2 million/year title sponsorship, of which 77% is paid to the operator to
cover operating costs, and 23% is used by the city to promote the program and
subsidize low-income rate programs.
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Shifting to a Contracted Shared Mobility Services Model
Contracting provides a stronger foundation for cities and companies to work together
toward outcomes defined in the contracts in comparison to the current permit model.
Council received an extensive review of the pilot permit program on November 12, 2019
(Attachment C) and, while shared mobility demonstrated popularity and transportation
value, challenges remained in reliability, affordability, and access for customers among
other issues. Contracts can ameliorate some of these issues through service level
standards, incentives, penalties, and fee adjustments.
Staff recommends pursuing the contract model option through a solicitation and
negotiation process. Doing so would shift the current shared mobility pilot program
permit structure to a contracted structure akin to the Breeze Bike Share operations
model, which would procure one or more vendors to provide shared mobility services
under contract with the City.
The contracted model would be sought in order to:
• Stabilize local access by deepening the City’s partnership with companies
For shared mobility to be a viable transportation option that supports local living,
it must be reliably available for everyday users. Under the permit model
companies compete for market share and have to weigh market viability with
level of local investment in service. For customers who depend on these services
for their transportation needs, such uncertainty and fluctuation can leave them
stranded. Companies operating under contract have a longer-term commitment
to operations than permitted entities, which enables them to prioritize long-term
investment in the market, which could include newer devices, innovative
technology (i.e. sidewalk riding tech), transit integration opportunities, docking
station infrastructure, and diverse payment plan products. More company
investment and a deeper partnership with shared mobility companies may also
lighten administrative oversight and enforcement efforts required to ensure
regulation compliance in a permitted system.
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• Increase local influence on usage rates, equity programs, and maintenance
standards enforceable through service level agreements (SLAs)
While Bird and Lyft offer low-income payment plans for qualified community
members, the standard e-scooter and e-bike per-minute user rate remains costly
for regular riders. Today both Bird and Lyft charge $1.00 to unlock the device and
$0.39 per minute to ride e-scooters. A Lyft e-bike is slightly cheaper at $1.00 to
unlock and $0.34 per minute. Under the current Shared Mobility Pilot Program
permit structure, the City does not set rider rates or equity efforts and could not
without a contract or other binding action. Under a contract model the City could
ensure dependable quality service by negotiating contract terms that pertain to
affordably, equity, engagement, operational service levels, penalties, and
contract termination.
• Address operations cost concerns through negotiated revenue sharing,
sponsorship opportunities, or reduced operations fees
Transportation services typically do not net revenue, and are subsidized through
federal, state, and local taxes. The City-owned Breeze System was operated
under a 5-year contract and supported by user revenues, sponsorship revenue,
and a small amount of City funds. As shared-mobility companies are withdrawing
from cities due to financial strain, cities who want continued operations are
reducing fees and some requirements in exchange for increased service levels,
reduced user rates and increased equity programs. Santa Monica set the
standard for shared mobility fees and insurance requirements and is now at the
very top of the cost spectrum of comparable cities. Currently operators pay
Annual Operator and Per Device fees, which pay for staff time to administer and
enforce compliance with the pilot program Administrative Regulations, and a Per
Trip PROW fee to support infrastructure to improve the safety for riders and
citywide streets. While the fees have been necessary to support the creation of
green lanes and pilot program staff and enforcement, consideration of costs and
new revenue streams such as sponsorship may be needed to achieve other
priorities (like greater equity and lower user rates) going forward. Any financial
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changes or negotiated financial terms of a contract would be brought back to
Council for approval.
Staff recommends amendments to the Municipal Code to extend the first shared
mobility pilot program for 11 months from April 30, 2021 to March 31, 2022 and repeal
the second pilot program. Should Council approve the pilot extension and direct staff to
pursue a contracted model, over the next 11 months Staff would:
• work with Bird and Lyft to ensure a continuous shared mobility service through
the remaining term of the shared mobility pilot program
• develop a scope of work for contractual shared mobility services based on
Council outcome priorities
• complete an RFP solicitation process to competitively select 1-2 operators
• negotiate contract terms with selected operators
• return to Council for authorization to execute the contract(s)
Operator Selection Priorities
Staff would structure the procurement selection criteria around clearly defined
performance expectations with a focus on the outcome priorities previously identified for
the second shared mobility pilot program that are described below. Staff recommends
Council give direction on which outcomes are most important in order to help guide the
procurement and contract negotiations processes. Staff will seek to optimize community
benefits coming out of the program and Council direction will assist when financial
challenges emerge, and tradeoffs need to be considered.
Criteria Category Outcome Priority
Reliability and Access Device distribution and rebalancing operations that
provide equitable access to riders throughout the City
and enable riders to depend on the system. Includes
maintenance to avoid blocking ADA clearance, transit
stops, driveways, etc.
Customer Affordability Affordable fares for daily use and commitment to fare
stability, provide reduced rates for income-qualified
customers, and discount programs.
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Outreach and Education Regular education about safety, rules, and riding
etiquette, outreach to and engagement with BIPOC,
lower-income and under-represented users.
Sustainability Sustainability goals and plans that ensure low
emissions/ energy consumption operations, long device
life expectancy, and end of life device recycling
practices.
Customer Service Strength of customer service operation including hours
of operation, phone/web services, mobile-app
notifications, and on device communications.
The procurement will continue to seek improvements in device quality and advanced
safety features/technologies that can help to drive safe operations, improve rider
behaviors, and reduce occurrences of haphazard parking, such as geo-fencing, parking
incentives, “lock-to” features, and in-app messaging. Potential vendors will be required
to provide the city with system data compatible with the Mobility Data Specification
(MDS) and General Bikeshare Feed Specification (GBFS) data application program
interfaces (API), and monthly reporting. The terms of the contractual agreement would
need to be negotiated with selected vendors. Any revenue and/or sponsorship sharing
terms will be coordinated with the Public Private Category Sponsorship program that
was approved by Council on January 26, 2021. Staff would return to Council for any
ordinance amendments, budget related actions, and authorization to execute the
contract(s).
Alternatives and Future Considerations
Second Shared Mobility Pilot Program: As an alternative to shifting to a contracted
model for shared mobility, Council could direct staff to proceed with the second pilot
program as was planned before the start of the pandemic. This would also involve a
solicitation and selection through a Request for Applications (RFA), and selected
operators would be regulated by SMMC Section 3.22 and the second pilot program
Administrative Guidelines. Staff would implement the equity distribution requirements
defined in Section 3.22 but would not have authority to negotiate user rates to improve
affordability. Companies would operate through a permit, which has no penalty for early
withdrawal from the market. Enforcement of the program would be limited to the tools
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available through traditional permit warnings and citations. For this alternative, Council
would need to extend the first pilot program (Section 3.21.060) and postpone the
second pilot program start date (Section 3.22.090) for a minimum of six months to allow
enough time to solicit applications and select participating operators, without losing
continuity of service of the current operations.
LA Metro Bike Share: Rather than providing bike/ e-bike share services as part of the
Shared Mobility Pilot Program, the City may consider participating in the LA Metro
public bike share system. The current structure of Metro Bike Share requires cities to
pay 50% of capital cost and 65% of operating cost, which is a multi-million-dollar
investment beyond reach in current financial conditions. However, LA Metro is currently
exploring options for restructuring the program to encourage partner cities to join. The
Metro Bike Share and operator contract will terminate in June 2021. Metro has indicated
their interest in working with Santa Monica as a partner of the regional bike share
system, however there is no indication yet what the financial terms would be. The Pilot
program extension will allow staff time to consider this option and better understand the
implications of this opportunity on how Santa Monica may provide bike share services in
the long-term.
Class I and Class II Electric Bicycles on the Beach Bike Path
E-bike usage and ownership has steadily increased over the past several years, and
nearly all local bike shops in Santa Monica now sell and/or offer e-bike rentals. E-bike
riders report an interest in reducing physical exertion and overcoming challenging
topography, along with the desire to replace car trips and increase health. E-bikes are
making it possible for more people to ride a bicycle, many of whom are incapable of
riding a standard bicycle or do not feel safe doing so.
In 2015, the California Legislature passed AB 1096, which updated Vehicle Code
provisions related to e-bikes, including permitting Class I and Class II e-bikes (20 mph
maximum speed), on Class I bicycle paths, such as the beach bike path, unless
otherwise prohibited by local municipalities. The bill designated three classes or types of
e-bikes:
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E-Bike Classification Max Speed Type of E-assist Speedometer
Required
Class I E-bike 20 mph Low-Speed Pedal-
assist
No
Class II E-Bike 20 mph Low-Speed
Throttle-assist
No
Class III E-Bike 28 mph Higher-Speed
Pedal-assist
Yes
When the first Shared Mobility Pilot Program was adopted in 2018, SMMC Section
3.12.600 was amended to clarify language that explicitly banned all motorized devices
from the beach bike path including all types of e-bikes. At that Council meeting, Staff
proposed that Council could consider an exemption for e-bikes in order to support the
burgeoning local industry, and because it is difficult to distinguish between regular bikes
and e-bikes. Ultimately, Council decided to include all e-bikes in the prohibition because
of oversaturation of e-scooters and other types of devices on the beach bike path, and
safety concerns regarding narrowness/ congestion of the path at that time. Council was
interested in leaving open the possibility to revisit an exemption for e-bikes on the path
at a later time.
Since the initial prohibition, staff has received occasional inquiries from community
members regarding an exemption to allow e-bikes on the beach path and the beach
path has seen substantial change.
• The City has completed the North Beach Bike Path project, which has separated
cyclists and pedestrians, expanded the capacity of the beach path north of the
pier, and incorporated high-visibility pedestrian crossings to reduce conflicts.
• The number of shared mobility operators and devices has decreased.
• Shared mobility operators have implemented geo-fencing technology that stops
shared e-scooters and e-bikes entering the beach path area and has nearly
eliminated the shared devices from the path.
Because of these changes, Staff recommends amending Santa Monica Municipal Code
Chapter 3.12.600, to remove the prohibition of Class I and II electric bicycles on the
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Beach Bike Path. Higher speed Class III e-bikes would continue to be prohibited by
State law. This amendment will reopen the beach path to the growing number of
commuters and recreational cyclist that are turning to lower-speed e-assist bikes as
their mode of choice.
SMPD has raised safety concerns regarding the potential for excessive speed on the
beach, and the challenge to distinguish among the different types of e-bikes. The speed
limit on the beach bike path is 20 mph, however there are no speed limit signs posted.
Currently, all e-bikes are required to have a label that describes its types, speed, and
motor wattage. Class III e-bikes are required to have a speedometer. If Class I and II e-
bikes were to be permitted on the path, some training would be needed for enforcement
personnel to distinguish Class III e-bikes from Class I and II, and targeted enforcement
actions to help educate the public should be considered.
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
In September of 2020 the permitted shared mobility companies paid the Annual
Operator and Annual Per Device cost recovery fees, which pay for staff time to
administer and enforce compliance with the pilot program. Should Council extend the
Pilot Program, permitted companies will continue to pay monthly per trip PROW fees
through the program term, and annual cost recovery fees in September 2021. There is
no immediate financial impact or budget action necessary as a result of the
recommended action. Based on Council direction, staff will include any potential budget
impacts in the FY 21-22 proposed budget.
Prepared By: Kyle Kozar, Bike Share Coordinator
Approved
Forwarded to Council
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Attachments:
A. Staff Report 3126 - June 26, 2018 (Web Link)
B. Staff Report 3134 - August 28, 2018 (Web Link)
C. Staff Report 3615 - November 12, 2019 (Web Link)
D. Staff Report 3877- January 28, 2020 (Web Link)
E. Staff Report 4000 - February 11, 2020 (Web Link)
F. Staff Report 4089 - May 12, 2020 (Web Link)
G. Proposed Ordinance
H. 3/3/2021 Email from Councilmember de la Torre to Climate Action Santa Monica
I. Written Comments
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City Council Meeting: March 9, 2021 Santa Monica, California
ORDINANCE NUMBER _________ (CCS)
(City Council Series)
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA AMENDING SANTA MONICA MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION 3.21.090
TO EXTEND THE TERM OF THE FIRST SHARED MOBILITY DEVICE PILOT
PROGRAM FROM APRIL 30, 2021 TO MARCH 31, 2022; REPEALING CHAPTER 3.22 (SECOND SHARED MOBILITY DEVICE PILOT PROGRAM) IN ITS ENTIRETY; AND AMENDING SECTION 3.12.600 TO AUTHORIZE THE USE OF CLASS 1 AND CLASS 2 ELECTRIC BICYCLES, BUT PROHIBIT THE USE OF MOTORIZED OR
CLASS 3 ELECTRIC BICYCLES, ON THE BEACH BIKE PATH
WHEREAS, on June 26, 2018, the Santa Monica City Council adopted Ordinance
Number 2578, which created Santa Monica Municipal Code Chapter 3.21, and
established a 16-month shared mobility device pilot program to manage dockless
electronic scooter and bicycle systems operating in the public right-of-way; and
WHEREAS, on January 28, 2020, Council directed staff to create a second shared
mobility pilot program that would build on the successes of the first pilot program and
better address persistent challenges; and
WHEREAS, on February 11, 2020 Council extended the term of the first pilot
program by six-months to facilitate timely adjustments to shared mobility services and
regulations, and maintain a continuity of service on the current systems for the thousands
of regular, frequent users; and
7.B.g
Packet Pg. 263 Attachment: Proposed Ordinance (4389 : Shared Mobility Pilot Program Extension)
WHEREAS, on May 12, 2020, Council postponed starting the second pilot program
and extended the first pilot program to April 30, 2021 to address the public health
concerns and economic uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic; and
WHEREAS, between March 2020 and May 2020, two out of four of the first pilot
program operators terminated their participation in the pilot program, and the remaining
two operators reduced their electric scooter fleet sizes to adjust for decrease usage during
the COVID-19 pandemic; and
WHEREAS, Council now desires to extend the term of the first pilot program until
March 30, 2022 to allow staff sufficient time to transition the City’s shared mobility device
program from a permitting-based model to a contracting-based model; end the first pilot
program as of March 30, 2022; and repeal the second pilot program; and
WHEREAS, due to the increase in electric bicycle usage and ownership, in 2015,
the California Legislature passed AB 1096, which updated the California Vehicle Code
related to electric bicycles, including permitting class 1 and class 2 electric bicycles (20
mph maximum speed), on class 1 bicycle paths, such as the beach bike path, unless
otherwise prohibited by local municipalities; and
WHEREAS, in 2018, Council amended Santa Monica Municipal Code Section
3.12.600 to prohibit all motorized devices from the beach bike path, including class 1,
class 2, and class 3 electric bicycles; and
WHEREAS, Council now desires to permit the use of class 1 and class 2 electric
bicycles on the beach bike path, but continue prohibiting use of class 3 and motorized
electric bicycles on the beach bike path.
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Packet Pg. 264 Attachment: Proposed Ordinance (4389 : Shared Mobility Pilot Program Extension)
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA
DOES HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 3.21.090 of the Santa Monica Municipal Code is hereby
amended to read as follows:
3.21.090 Pilot Program Term.
Permits issued pursuant to this Chapter shall terminate and be of no further force
or effect beyond April 30, 2021 March 31, 2022, unless otherwise extended or
terminated earlier by the City.
SECTION 2. Chapter 3.22 of the Santa Monica Code is hereby repealed in its
entirety.
SECTION 3. Section 3.12.600 of the Santa Monica Municipal Code is hereby
amended to read as follows:
3.12.600 Bicycles, electric bicycles, electric personal assistive mobility devices,
electrically motorized boards, low-speed vehicles, motorized scooters, roller skates,
skateboards, and similar devices.
(a) Beach Promenade. It shall be unlawful to ride or operate a bicycle, electric bicycle,
electric personal assistive mobility device, electrically motorized board, low-speed
vehicle, motorized scooter, or other vehicle upon the Beach Promenade.
(b) Beach Bike-Path. It shall be unlawful to ride or operate a pedicab, a motorized
bicycle or a class 3 (as defined in the California Vehicle Code) electric bicycle, electric
7.B.g
Packet Pg. 265 Attachment: Proposed Ordinance (4389 : Shared Mobility Pilot Program Extension)
personal assistive mobility device, electrically motorized board, low-speed vehicle,
motorized scooter, or other vehicle upon the beach bike-path. Class 1 and class 2 (as
defined in the California Vehicle Code) electric bicycles are permitted on the beach bike
path. Bicycle riding shall be permitted along the beach bike-path, within the City limits
and in those areas where the Promenade constitutes a portion of the bikeway and are
otherwise permitted by sign. All persons riding bicycles on the beach bike-path shall
comply with all lawful signs and directional markings, including, but not limited to, painted,
directional arrows, bike-path route boundaries, and signs designating permissible travel
lanes.
(c) Public Sidewalks. It shall be unlawful to ride or operate a bicycle, electric bicycle,
electric personal assistive mobility device, electrically motorized board, low-speed
vehicle, motorized scooter, or other vehicle upon any public sidewalk.
(d) Public Parking Structure. It shall be unlawful to ride or operate a bicycle, electric
bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electrically motorized board, low-
speed vehicle, motorized scooter, or other vehicle in any public parking structure.
(e) Roller Skates, Skateboards, and Similar Devices. The City Council may, by
resolution, adopt regulations prohibiting or limiting the use of roller skates, skateboards
and similar devices with wheels in public street rights-of-way and public areas, where
necessary for public safety.
(f) Third Street Promenade and Municipal Pier. The City Council may, by resolution,
adopt regulations prohibiting or limiting the use of roller skates, skateboards and similar
devices with wheels; bicycles; electric bicycles; electric personal assistive mobility
7.B.g
Packet Pg. 266 Attachment: Proposed Ordinance (4389 : Shared Mobility Pilot Program Extension)
devices; electrically motorized boards; low-speed vehicles; motorized scooters; and/or
other vehicles on the Third Street Promenade and/or the Municipal Pier, where necessary
for public safety.
(g) Reckless Riding or Operating. It shall be unlawful to ride or operate a bicycle,
electric bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electrically motorized board,
low-speed vehicle, motorized scooter, or other vehicle in willful or wanton disregard for
the safety of persons or property. Reckless and unlawful operating includes carrying any
other person upon the bar, handle bars, floorboard or other area of a bicycle, electric
bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electrically motorized board, low-
speed vehicle, motorized scooter, or other vehicle not designed for passenger riding or
designed for a single person, and reckless and unlawful riding includes riding in any such
a manner. Reckless and unlawful operating also includes clinging to or attaching oneself
or one’s motorized or non-motorized wheeled device to any moving vehicle or motorized
or non-motorized wheeled device.
(h) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, or any other Section of this
Code, public safety personnel may operate a bicycle, electric bicycle, electric personal
assistive mobility device, electrically motorized board, low-speed vehicle, motorized
scooter, or other vehicle at any place in the City in the performance of their duties.
(i) This Section shall not apply to any person who is operating a self-propelled
wheelchair, motorized tricycle, or motorized quadricycle and, by reason of physical
disability, is otherwise unable to move about as a pedestrian.
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Packet Pg. 267 Attachment: Proposed Ordinance (4389 : Shared Mobility Pilot Program Extension)
SECTION 4. Any provision of the Santa Monica Municipal Code or appendices
thereto inconsistent with the provisions of this Ordinance, to the extent of such
inconsistencies and no further, is hereby repealed or modified to that extent necessary to
effect the provisions of this Ordinance.
SECTION 5. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase of this
Ordinance is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a decision of any
court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining
portions of this Ordinance. The City Council hereby declares that it would have passed
this Ordinance and each and every section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase not
declared invalid or unconstitutional without regard to whether any portion of the ordinance
would be subsequently declared invalid or unconstitutional.
SECTION 6. The Mayor shall sign and the City Clerk shall attest to the passage of
this Ordinance. The City Clerk shall cause the same to be published once in the official
newspaper within 15 days after its adoption. This Ordinance shall become effective 30
days from its adoption.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_________________________ GEORGE S. CARDONA Interim City Attorney
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Packet Pg. 268 Attachment: Proposed Ordinance (4389 : Shared Mobility Pilot Program Extension)
7.B.h
Packet Pg. 269 Attachment: 3/3/2021 Email from Councilmember de la Torre to Climate Action Santa Monica (4389 : Shared Mobility Pilot Program Extension)
acquainted with cycling and it adds resiliancy to our transportation system.
Additionally, the availability of shared mobility devices offers Santa Monicans and visitors an affordable
option for getting around with minimal Covid risks at no cost to the city.
CASM also urges that the shared mobility plan include strong incentives for the providers of the mobility
services to take into account the full lifecycle impacts of their operations, including the sourcing, repair
and recycling of their devices and their battery charging and device distribution practices. It is also
important that the electrical energy used by their operations be provided by the 100% remewables
option through the Community Power Alliance that our city participates in.
Please support the extension of Santa Monica's shared mobility program.
Thank you,
Climate Action Santa Monica Steering Committee:
Judy Abdo
Cris Gutierrez
Kent Strumpell
Amy Sullivan
Melissa Sweeney
Laurene von Klan
Mica Williams
7.B.h
Packet Pg. 270 Attachment: 3/3/2021 Email from Councilmember de la Torre to Climate Action Santa Monica (4389 : Shared Mobility Pilot Program Extension)
1
Vernice Hankins
From:Santa Monica City Manager's Office
Sent:Wednesday, March 3, 2021 9:22 AM
To:councilmtgitems
Subject:FW: CASM support for Santa Monica's shared mobility program
Follow Up Flag:Follow up
Flag Status:Flagged
FYI
On 3/2/21, 8:40 PM, "Laurene von Klan" <chicagoriver@hotmail.com> wrote:
EXTERNAL
Dear Council Members:
Climate Action Santa Monica urges you to support the continuation of the city's Shared Mobility program as described
in the staff report.
As you know, transportation is our city's largest source of carbon emissions and we have set ambitous goals for the
reduction of these gases. Without a dramatic shift in how we meet our mobility needs we will not be able to achieve the
critical goal of carbon neutrality by 2050.
The shared mobility program has an important role to play in transforming how we get around. Coupled with the
ongoing buildout of our bikeway network, the availability of shared mobility devices like scooters, bikes and ebikes,
helps people make local trips without needing to use a car. It provides connectivity to and from public transit for longer
trips. It provides an easy way for users to become re‐acquainted with cycling and it adds resiliancy to our transportation
system.
Additionally, the availability of shared mobility devices offers Santa Monicans and visitors an affordable option for
getting around with minimal Covid risks at no cost to the city.
CASM also urges that the shared mobility plan include strong incentives for the providers of the mobility services to
take into account the full lifecycle impacts of their operations, including the sourcing, repair and recycling of their
devices and their battery charging and device distribution practices. It is also important that the electrical energy used
by their operations be provided by the 100% remewables option through the Community Power Alliance that our city
participates in.
Please support the extension of Santa Monica's shared mobility program.
Thank you,
Climate Action Santa Monica Steering Committee:
Judy Abdo
Cris Gutierrez
Kent Strumpell
Amy Sullivan
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Packet Pg. 271 Attachment: Written Comments (4389 : Shared Mobility Pilot Program Extension)
2
Melissa Sweeney
Laurene von Klan
Mica Williams
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Packet Pg. 272 Attachment: Written Comments (4389 : Shared Mobility Pilot Program Extension)
March 8, 2021
VIA EMAIL
City Council
City of Santa Monica
1685 Main Street
Santa Monica, California 90401
RE: Item 7B, Shared Mobility Device Program
Dear Honorable Mayor Himmelrich and Councilmembers,
On behalf of Spin, a micromobility firm operating in Los Angeles since 2019 and an
independent subsidiary of Ford, I am writing to you today to reiterate Spin’s interest in
the Mobility Device Program.
Spin supports staff’s recommendation to create a contracted model for 1-2 operators for
shared mobility services inclusive of e-scooters and e-bikes. A contracted partner will
better assist in delivering on policy objectives like equity and compliance. We share
staff’s vision to prioritize outcomes related to the stability of local access, multiple form
factors to serve different abilities, equitable distribution of devices, affordability, and
diverse outreach.
However, we are concerned with staff’s recommendation to extend the pilot for another
year. Instead, we ask that the Council consider an alternative that will provide an
opportunity for other mobility partners to participate and provide great service to the City
and residents. We ask that the City Council consider extending the current Shared
Mobility Device pilot for an additional two months and align the start of the new shared
mobility program with the City’s fiscal calendar on July 1, 2021. This should provide staff
with four months to run procurement and negotiate contract terms, similar to the
timeframe they suggested for the RFA last year. The RFA content that was released in
March 2020, along with procurement samples recently released from Denver, San
Francisco, and Salt Lake City, can be used to inform Santa Monica’s RFP and reduce
administrative burden for staff.
Santa Monica was the first city in the world to launch a pilot program to regulate shared
electric scooters in the public right of way. After almost 3 years, the Shared Mobility
Device Pilot in Santa Monica is now the longest running pilot in the country. Numerous
innovations have been developed over the last three years since the first competitive
process took place in June 2018. By running a new procurement process within the next
four months, Santa Monica will receive updated proposals with the latest technology
and innovations.
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Packet Pg. 273 Attachment: Written Comments (4389 : Shared Mobility Pilot Program Extension)
As shown in the Staff Report, Santa Monica experienced a decrease in bad rider
behavior and haphazard parking in 2020, due mostly to the reduction in overall
ridership, particularly among the tourist population and first-time riders. With increased
vaccinations, tourism is bound to return over the coming months and, especially by
summertime. The City will greatly benefit from new technology that will maximize safety,
alert users in real-time, and increase further compliance. Several new innovations are
not available to Santa Monica through existing operators at this time, for example:
●Computer-vision to detect real-time parking validation;
●Real-time sidewalk riding detection;
●Real-time protected-lane riding detection;
●Anti-microbial grips; and
●Remote teleoperation of three-wheeled scooters to reduce response time for
re-positioning.
Backed by the Ford family, Spin is a stable and committed transportation provider with a
strong track record of investing in our workforce of 100% in-house W2 employees,
community outreach, affordable rates, and solid service delivery of bike share and
scooter share. We respectfully ask that the City of Santa Monica open up a competitive
process to welcome new micromobility innovations and start a new program by July 1,
2021.
Thank you in advance for your consideration and we look forward to the opportunity to
submit a proposal to the City of Santa Monica. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with
any questions.
Sincerely,
Phuong Bui
Government Partnerships Manager, Spin
phuong.bui@spin.pm
TO: Honorable Sue Himmelrich, Mayor
Honorable Kristin McCowan, Mayor Pro Tempore
Honorable Phil Brock, Councilmember
Honorable Gleam Davis, Councilmember
Honorable Oscar de la Torre, Councilmember
Honorable Kevin McKeown, Councilmember
Honorable Christine Parra, Councilmember
CC:Ed King, Director of Transit Services
Francie Stefan, Chief Mobility Officer
Kyle Kozar, Senior Transportation Planner
Lane Dilg, Interim City Manager
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Packet Pg. 274 Attachment: Written Comments (4389 : Shared Mobility Pilot Program Extension)
1
Vernice Hankins
From:Epstein HP <hpewriter@yahoo.com>
Sent:Monday, March 8, 2021 5:04 PM
To:councilmtgitems
Subject:Item 7B Meeting Agenda 3/9/21
EXTERNAL
The staff report does not take into consideration the downside of scooters and ebikes. They are not the
environmentally‐friendly transportation modes they pretend to be. They are recreational vehicles that more often
replace walking than car use. They have lithium batteries that are most detrimental to the environment.
Instead the report suggests that a city as broke as Santa Monica subsidize billion‐dollar companies to provide these
"services." The Council should make sure that not one taxpayer penny goes to subsidizing the recreation of individuals
or the companies that supply the devices. In fact, these companies owe the city. Their products use our taxpayer‐paid
streets and reward us by littering the landscape with discarded devices. Sure complaints are down. But that is not
because of better behavior by device users. Covid‐19 decreased the overall usage so there are fewer complaints.
In addition, these companies never pick up the devices that are strewn across our streets and in (forbidden) parks. The
city should collect them and bill the companies to retrieve them. Bird and Lime should be held responsible not only for
business fees, but they should be penalized when their customers' fail to observe the rules of Santa Monica. Any
contracts with them should include this provision.
Harriet P. Epstein
Santa Monica resident
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Packet Pg. 275 Attachment: Written Comments (4389 : Shared Mobility Pilot Program Extension)
1
Vernice Hankins
From:Joseph Lamusga <jlamusga@gmail.com>
Sent:Monday, March 8, 2021 5:57 PM
To:councilmtgitems
Cc:Council Mailbox
Subject:Support Item 7B
EXTERNAL
For the Council:
Bird's e-scooters are a great and needed part of life in Santa Monica. I have used their
scooters so much during this past year as a safe and socially distanced alternative to
ride share services, and now I can't imagine going back to my old ways. I live in
downtown SM and I always use Bird scooters because I see how active Bird is in moving
them around and keeping them in great working order. I always feel confident that I am
getting a safe and well maintained vehicle with Bird, and that has not been my
experience with other operators in other parts of Los Angeles.
I love using all the biking infrastructure to be able to ride Birds safely around the city. It
takes me no time to zip up to a friend's place in Mid City, or to get dinner in Ocean Park
while being in a bike lane for the entire trip. With the expansion of outdoor dining
taking up street parking spots, I love knowing that I can grab a Bird, get right to my
destination, and not worry about parking. It would be great if we had Bird available on
the beach bike path now that the infrastructure has been expanded, this would allow me
to connect to and from Venice safely.
Thank you for your time, consideration and service to the city.
Sincerely,
Joey Lamusga
Downtown Santa Monica Resident
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Packet Pg. 276 Attachment: Written Comments (4389 : Shared Mobility Pilot Program Extension)
1
Vernice Hankins
From:Paul Vizcaino <paulv@wheels.co>
Sent:Monday, March 8, 2021 7:11 PM
To:Sue Himmelrich; Kristin McCowan; Phil Brock; Gleam Davis; Oscar de la Torre; Councilmember Kevin
McKeown; Christine Parra; councilmtgitems
Cc:Alastair Curtis
Subject:Item 7B - Shared Mobility Device Pilot (WHEELS)
Attachments:City Council March 9 2021.Pilot Letter.Final.pdf
EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Himmelrich, Mayor Pro Tempore McCowan & City Councilmembers,
We have attached a letter from Wheels asking that you please reopen competitive applications for your Shared Mobility
Device Pilot as soon as possible. We believe that the Santa Monica community deserves access to the best
micromobility options currently available on the market. By immediately reopening competitive applications, you will
ensure that residents and visitors alike have access to the safest and most accessible mobility options just in time for
summer.
If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me anytime by phone or email.
Sincerely,
Paul
Paul Vizcaino
Chief Dev. Officer/Founding Member
Wheels Labs, Inc.
Mobile +1‐310‐428‐7488
www.takewheels.com
To help protect your priv acy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet.
This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or
entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify the system manager.
This message contains confidential information and is intended only for the individual named. If you are not the
named addressee you should not disseminate, distribute or copy this e-mail. Please notify the sender
immediately by e-mail if you have received this e-mail by mistake and delete this e-mail from your system. If
you are not the intended recipient you are notified that disclosing, copying, distributing or taking any action in
reliance on the contents of this information is strictly prohibited. p. 310‐428‐7488
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Packet Pg. 277 Attachment: Written Comments (4389 : Shared Mobility Pilot Program Extension)
March 8, 2021
Re: Item 7B - Shared Mobility Pilot
Dear Mayor Himmelrich and City Councilmembers,
Santa Monica emerged as a leader in the early days of shared mobility with its
Breeze Bike Share program and one of the first shared mobility pilot programs.
However, in the past few years shared mobility technology has rapidly evolved.
New features and vehicle types provide greater safety and accessibility to riders.
We believe it is a mistake to postpone reopening the pilot for another six months to
a year, as proposed in the staff report. Santa Monicans deserve the opportunity to
assess the latest advances in the space, especially as it relates to safety and
accessibility, and to select providers that best meet the community’s needs.
We hope you will direct staff to open a competitive solicitation as soon as possible
so new operators can be in place by Memorial Day (or June 1, if you prefer to avoid
the holiday). This will ensure that a diversity of sustainable transportation options
are available as demand increases over the summer. The RFA for the second pilot
has already been prepared, and many operators (like Wheels) had begun preparing
our responses before it was postponed last year. The solicitation could be
rereleased, with only small edits needed to make it current, and would only need to
remain open for the legal period required. The city’s priority should be to get the
competitive process reopened, and any new program models that you want to
develop can be explored later.
Wheels provides a number of features not currently offered in Santa Monica. We
have made safety our top priority and are the only operator able to provide helmets
with biodegradable liners attached to each vehicle. This, along with our lower
center of gravity, large wheels and intuitive handling has made us the safest shared
mobility option. (See safety report data below).
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Packet Pg. 278 Attachment: Written Comments (4389 : Shared Mobility Pilot Program Extension)
Many people are unable to use Santa Monica’s existing micromobility options
because of mobility challenges with their legs or difficulties with balancing on stand-
up electric scooters. Our seated pedal-free bikes provide access to a wider range of
riders. (See vehicle features in image below). We also pioneered self-cleaning
handlebars, which help keep our riders healthy.
Wheels, currently operates in the parts of Los Angeles surrounding Santa Monica,
and could help bring desperately needed customers from the surrounding region to
local businesses. Currently, if a resident or worker in Venice wants to grab lunch in
Santa Monica, their Wheels vehicle stops once they reach the border. Convenient
regional transportation should be a high priority for post-pandemic economic
recovery.
As the impact of the pandemic lessens and our economy begins to reopen, now is
the time to ensure that residents, workers, and visitors have access to zero-emission
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Packet Pg. 279 Attachment: Written Comments (4389 : Shared Mobility Pilot Program Extension)
transportation options. If more Santa Monicans have access to these options, then
more are likely to continue to use these modes rather than revert back to car-based
rideshare services. Memorial Day through the end of summer sees peak usage for
micromobility and we should reopen these programs to match that demand.
Further delaying the pilot is also inconsistent with three of the key goals the City
Council identified for the second pilot:
• Continue to offer a variety of shared mobility options to residents, employees
and visitors to Santa Monica;
• Catalyze industry improvement in devices, technologies, and service that
deliver better outcomes
• Maintain flexibility as the industry continues to rapidly evolve;
As the city has lost two operators from its original pilot, the only way to achieve the
goals above is through reopening a competitive review. At the very least, the city
could direct staff to allow new operators to apply for the vacant slots available in the
current permit. With Jump and Lime’s exits from Santa Monica, only Bird and Lyft
are left in the current pilot. During these especially volatile times, it’s essential that
the city does not limit itself to only two operators. If just one fails, you’ll have a
single operator monopolizing the market. If both fail, Santa Monicans who rely on
this service will be left without it.
Please vote to reopen the shared mobility pilot to competitive solicitation as
soon as possible to ensure Santa Monicans have access to the safest, most
accessible, and most sustainable options before summer starts.
Thank you,
Paul Vizcaino
Chief Development Officer/Founding Member
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Packet Pg. 280 Attachment: Written Comments (4389 : Shared Mobility Pilot Program Extension)
1
Vernice Hankins
From:Sam Weller <sweller616@gmail.com>
Sent:Tuesday, March 9, 2021 8:50 AM
To:councilmtgitems
Cc:Council Mailbox
Subject:Support for Item 7B
EXTERNAL
Hello City Council,
I'm writing to voice my support for continuing the shared mobility program.
I use Bird on a weekly basis to go grocery shopping, run errands, and get across town. It's been especially helpful during
the past year when I didn't feel comfortable getting into an uber or taking public transit. Please keep this program going!
Thanks,
Sam
‐‐
Sam Weller
203‐981‐1653
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Packet Pg. 281 Attachment: Written Comments (4389 : Shared Mobility Pilot Program Extension)
1
Vernice Hankins
From:Jason Mastbaum <jason.mastbaum@gmail.com>
Sent:Tuesday, March 9, 2021 9:54 AM
To:councilmtgitems
Subject:March 9 city council meeting agenda item 7B
EXTERNAL
Hello, I'm a resident of Santa Monica and I'm writing to support the staff recommendations on promoting continuity and
strengthening of the mobility pilot program, agenda item 7B for today's meeting. I'm a regular user of the scooter share
systems; just yesterday, I used a Lyft scooter to get to a doctor's appointment which I would have otherwise needed to
have driven to due to how long it would have taken to have walked or taken Big Blue Bus there instead. The shared
mobility systems directly contribute to my ability to decrease the amount of short local driving trips I take within Santa
Monica.
Lyft bikes are required to be locked up at the old Breeze bike stations, incurring a $1 penalty for not doing so; this
presents the same problem as caused me to allow my Breeze membership to lapse several years ago, which is that the
stations nearest me were always empty, meaning that I would need to spend too much time walking to a station with a
bike to make it worth using Breeze. I urge the city council to make sure that we continue to have access to free‐floating
electric scooters and bikes which do not need to be parked at specifically designated stations in order to promote even
availability throughout the city, which is crucial to making the systems able to support the city's stated goal of helping
people drive less.
Thank you,
Jason Mastbaum
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1
Vernice Hankins
From:Sara Haug <sarahaug1972@gmail.com>
Sent:Tuesday, March 9, 2021 10:19 AM
To:Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems
Subject:Item 7B Comments
EXTERNAL
Good Morning,
I write to share my thoughts on the shared mobility pilot program. My husband and I often use the Bird e‐scooters and
Lyft e‐bikes to commute around the city. We have dramatically reduced our local car trips, because of the convenience
these devices provide, traffic has become a nightmare in Santa Monica. Our city is great for biking and scooting, but we
must continue to double down on safe infrastructure. We have found the new protected bike lane on Ocean amazing
allowing us to connect safely to the Expo line from North Santa Monica. We also love that Bird offers 30% off rides for
frequent riders and we get 3 free rides a month with our Lyft Pink membership. These options provide affordability and
rewards for those who frequently use these services. We love going out on our weekly date nights to our favorite local
restaurants in Santa Monica.
Now the downside, we still don't have enough parking areas for these scooters and bikes. We often lock our Lyft bikes to
a fence of an empty lot next to our apartment building. Can we look at adding more spaces and bike racks around the
city? It's great the companies give us credit when we park in these areas, but we need more. I also see the city is also
considering allowing e‐bikes up to 20mph on the beach bike path! This is a BAD IDEA! We love the new bike path and we
don't want e‐bikes or those large bikes with big wheels going 20/30MPH by us. We understand the companies have
geofences on the beach bike path so if the goal of staff is to increase connectivity on a safe route where you don't have
to intersect with cars we are ok with allowing Lyft e‐bikes and Bird/Lyft e‐scooters on the bike path, but ONLY if the
speed can be controlled by the city. We would say a MAXIMUM of 5‐10mph is about the speed we go on our bikes.
Overall, we support sustainability and its great to see these scooters are still on our streets after 3 years. Let me be
honest, it was no cakewalk in 2018, but these companies have matured and become part of our community ecosystem.
We like that there are only 2 companies, it allows for competition, but doesn't over flood the market like before when
we had multiple operators. We would ask that the city ask Bird and Lyft to add more devices around the city. I
understand they decreased due to COVID, but as we begin to reopen we should ask these companies to put more
scooters and bikes out to ensure residents don't all return to using a car. We understand the city budget is a tight place,
but please please continue to add more protected bike lanes and more parking areas if possible.
Thank you,
Sara and James Haug
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Packet Pg. 283 Attachment: Written Comments (4389 : Shared Mobility Pilot Program Extension)
1
Vernice Hankins
From:Kate Shoemaker <katershoemaker@gmail.com>
Sent:Tuesday, March 9, 2021 11:47 AM
To:councilmtgitems
Cc:Council Mailbox
Subject:Support Item 7B
EXTERNAL
Dear Council,
I saw an article and wanted to express my support for Item 7B.
I have been a regular Bird user since they started and have more recently gotten rid of my car because I am able to reply
on Bird to get around Santa Monica. This is more affordable than having a car for me in these hard times and is a boost
to my happiness with the freeing feeling I get riding a Bird.
I ask to continue to support Bird's presence in Santa Monica.
Kate Shoemaker
808.281.9902
1024 Maple St, Santa Monica, CA 90405
Item 7.B 03/09/21
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Packet Pg. 284 Attachment: Written Comments (4389 : Shared Mobility Pilot Program Extension)
1705 Stewart St
Santa Monica, CA 90404
March 8, 2021
VIA E-MAIL
Santa Monica City Council
City Hall
1685 Main Street, Room 209
Santa Monica, CA 90401
RE: Extending the First Shared Mobility Device Pilot Program, Repealing the Second
Pilot Program, and Amending SMMC to Remove Prohibition of Class I and Class II
E-bikes on the Beach Bike Path
Dear Mayor Himmelrich and City Councilmembers,
Lyft Bikes & Scooters is writing to express our strong support for extending the First
Shared Mobility Device Pilot Program, repealing the second pilot program, and
amending SMMC to remove the prohibition of class I and class II e-bikes on the
beach bike path.
We value the open and collaborative partnership that we have established with the
City of Santa Monica over the past 2.5 years of micromobility operations in the city,
and we are eager to continue working with the City to enhance the shared mobility
program. We also want to thank the City Council and city staff for their commitment
to micromobility.
While 2020 was a difficult time for everyone, we are proud of our collaborative work
with the City of Santa Monica to keep zero-emissions micromobility safe and
available during the COVID-19 crisis. We are most proud of two milestones launched
in 2020:
●Launched e-Bikes. We worked with the City of Santa Monica to launch our
e-bike share to fill the important transportation gap that the Breeze
bike-share system left, while incorporating the Breeze network of docking
stations.
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Packet Pg. 285 Attachment: Written Comments (4389 : Shared Mobility Pilot Program Extension)
●Critical Worker Program. We launched in April 2020 and are still maintaining
Lyft's Critical Worker program that has delivered over 4,000 free rides to front
line workers in the covid crisis in LA County.
Lyft is also proud to have helped the City of Santa Monica generate significant
revenue, while also reducing car traffic and greenhouse gases:
●City Revenue: Santa Monica generated $1.4M in City revenue from the Shared
Mobility program in 2019 -- the 2020 number will differ, based on fee structure
change and on-the-ground device presence during COVID.
●Decreasing Car Usage: According to a City survey, nearly half (49%) of shared
mobility trips replaced trips that would have otherwise been made by car.
We also want to highlight for Council our continued dedication to the Santa Monica
community:
●Murals: Lyft commissioned three micromobility murals focused on choosing
sustainable transportation, riding safely in bike lanes (not the sidewalk!), and
parking your scooter properly in Santa Monica. We partnered with a local SM
artist Leila Youssefi. The murals are located at Ocean Park & Main St. and
Broadway & 14th St.
●Safety events and “Scootiquette” campaign: Prior to COVID, Lyft had
frequent helmet handouts, collaborated with Santa Monica Spoke on multiple
public scooter safety training sessions, and built out a “scootiquette” safety
education campaign to share safety and etiquette tips in an engaging way.
Please let us know if you have additional questions or if we can provide additional
information. Lyft looks forward to its continued partnership in building the safest
and most equitable micromobility system possible in Santa Monica.
We want to again ask the City Council to support the one-year extension of the
Shared Mobility Device Pilot Program. We hope to continue this partnership with
the City of Santa Monica.
Sincerely,
Colin K. Hughes
Senior Policy Manager for Bikes, Scooters, & Transit
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1
Vernice Hankins
From:Jackie Stevenson <jackieivystevenson@gmail.com>
Sent:Tuesday, March 9, 2021 1:18 PM
To:Council Mailbox; councilmtgitems
Subject:Essential Worker Support 7B
EXTERNAL
Dear Honorable Officials,
My name is Jackie Stevenson and I live and work in Santa Monica. I write to
you on behalf of the essential workers who use e-scooters to move around the
city. I've been using the Bird free rides for essential workers since June 2020,
and I'm extremely thankful the city is providing this option. I work at
Providence Saint Johns with other nurses who use this free service around
town, allowing us to save on not having to drive and pay for parking has been
a god send during the COVID pandemic. I don't know if the city is paying for
the essential worker free rides, but if you are I just wanted to say thank you
for supporting the program and providing this service. We hope this free ride
service will continue while we continue to recover from the pandemic.
God Bless you all,
Jackie Stevenson
2022 Delaware Ave.
Santa Monica, CA 90404
7.B.i
Packet Pg. 287 Attachment: Written Comments (4389 : Shared Mobility Pilot Program Extension)
A community group dedicated
to biking in Santa Monica.
Working to make the
City of Santa Monica a
more sustainable,
bikeable place to live, work and play.
March 9, 2021
Agenda Item 7B: Support for Extending the First Shared Mobility Device Pilot Program, Repealing the Second
Pilot Program, and Amending SMMC to Remove Prohibition of Class I and Class II E-bikes on the Beach Bike Path
Dear Mayor and City Council,
Santa Monica Spoke wishes to express our support in extending the First Shared Mobility Device Pilot Program,
repealing the second pilot program, and amending SMMC to remove the inequitable prohibition of class I and
class II e-bikes on the beach bike path — which we have always opposed.
Santa Monica Spoke has long advocated for increasing micro-mobility use in the city with many, if not most trips
in Santa Monica averaging under three miles. Our mission is rooted in supporting and advocating Santa Monicas
residents and visitors have a variety of safe options to motorized car tips, reducing vehicle GHG, congestion, and
helping to improve safety along with our City’s economic and environmental resilience and sustainability. To
achieve our desired results we must continue to prioritize options that support walking, biking, public
transportation and use of shared micro-mobility like scooters and bike share in our community.
Lyft Bikes & Scooters has been an authentic and engaged partner for the City’s micro-mobility e orts, helping to
reduce single car trips with zero-emission scooters and more recently introducing e-bikes to make micro-
mobility options more accessible to more people. Additionally, Lyft launched e-bikes during our on-going
COVID-19 crisis, lling the gap and loss left by our beloved Breeze Bike Share System. This happened at a critical
time when other operators where severely reduced eets or completely abandoned the City of Santa Monica -
when our mobility was in crisis. Lyft has consistently continued to investing in our local mobility, programs and
systems, as a proactive and a committed long-term partner.
We believe the City Council and sta worked hard and crafted a thoughtful and visionary pilot program to
identify the best operators and to help bring order during the undeniable and considerable chaos of those early
micro-mobility years. We support extending the current pilot for one more year to allow the City Council and
sta additional time to see how our economic and micro-mobility landscape shakes out, and to capitalize on
emerging best practices and lessons learned pre and post COVID-19. We strongly hope council will codify the
SMMC to remove the inequitable barrier for class I and II e-bikes on the beach path. This restriction unfairly
targets car free households, families and moms with kid carrying e-cargo bikes from accessing the vast resources
along the beach bike path. The SMMC currently also eliminates longstanding access by bike commuters
choosing a healthier and more sustainable option of biking to work on safe o road facilities instead of a
motorized vehicle. Abandoning previous choices of driving that negatively impacts our tra c congestion, our
city’s sustainability goals to reduce GHG emissions and equitable access to the safe travel resource of the beach
bike path for residents and families, visitors and bike commuters.
Sincerely
Cynthia Rose
Santa Monica Spoke
Santa Monica Safe Street Alliance
7.B.i
Packet Pg. 288 Attachment: Written Comments (4389 : Shared Mobility Pilot Program Extension)