Milwaukee motorcyclists ignore city warnings as Bird's trial heats up

RELATED: The City of Milwaukee Complains against bird scooters

Bird scooters could be off the street in a few weeks. On Wednesday, the public works committee of the municipal council recommended an order banning scooters and authorizing their seizure. Aldermen pointed out the illegality of scooters and highlighted the risks associated with scooters, including helmet use and liability issues.

If the state determines that motorized scooters are legal, the committee recommends that a pilot program of motorized scooters be put in place. These measures will be examined by the full communal council on July 31 and, if approved, will go to Mayor Tom Barrett

. But outside of his legal battle and despite the best efforts of the city, Bird thrives. He has rented his scooters over 6,900 times in Milwaukee, according to court documents, and he has just raised $ 300 million in his last round of financing. According to Reuters,

By a sunny Tuesday afternoon, almost three weeks after Bird dropped his scooters in Milwaukee, people have been seen circulating throughout the downtown area.

"I did not even know that they were illegal," said Josh Sopa, who was driving a scooter near Veterans Park

Photo

Carolyn Gambill (left) of Milwaukee and her sister, Jeannie Cleveland, visiting Boulder, Colorado, drive scooters of birds along the lake near the Veterans Park in Milwaukee on Monday. (Photo: Mike De Sisti / Milwaukee Sentinel Journal)

Sopa said that he has used scooters at least 10 times since they became available and that he was not Did not receive a ticket.

"It's a good way to get around, it's especially convenient for my girlfriend, who works three times and uses them as a means of transportation between jobs," says Sopa

. Agabekov expressed a similar feeling.

"I know it's illegal, but I do not worry about having a ticket, I've already passed a few cops and I've had a lot of money." friends who drive them, "he said. "Plus, it saves money, it's fast and it's more fun than riding a bike."

Agabekov believes Bird has dropped even more scooters in the city last week, accelerating its operations.

Reese Vanselow and Steve Belling, They noticed an increase in the number of scooters.

"It looks like there are many more," said Vanselow, adding that he hoped that Bird would not clutter the city. "In San Francisco, these scooters are like garbage because they're everywhere."

Police do not seem to make quotes

Of the 10 people interviewed by the Sentinel Journal, none have received quotes or quotes. heard of anyone receiving a quote to ride a scooter.

Several noted that the police saw them riding and did nothing about it.

The police did not publish a statement on the citations. When asked for a comment, spokesman for the Milwaukee Police Department Sgt. Sheronda Grant wrote: "I have no information on whether or not quotes have been issued for the Byrd scooter (sic).

Meanwhile, Robert Bauman, the alderman, expressed his disinterest in punishing the riders at Wednesday's meeting

"This company is There is no objection if the customer pays the price "he said. "But I'm not supportive of issuing tickets for everyone."

Milwaukee residents seem to have noticed the lack of application

Louise's workers, an Italian downtown restaurant, said that "it was an explosion", said staff member Anthony Dominski with a broad smile. "We are not worried about the fines, I can not really imagine a cop chasing us."

Throwing a scooter right outside the restaurant, Joel Bruecker said that he was not worried either. they want to impose the ban, the city should just get rid of it, "he said.

So what exactly are the rules?

It also states that riders " follow all laws relating to the use of the vehicle, According to the City of Milwaukee, Milwaukee asserts in its lawsuit that the scooters of birds are ""

A confused order from a company that has repeatedly violates the state law. "motor vehicles" that do not meet federal safety equipment standards and are not registered in the state of Wisconsin, so in violation of the Wisconsin Act 341.04.

RELATIVELY: In the debate over Nashville's electric scooters, residents question their ability to enforce rights

RELATED: Nashville to Bird: Remove all scooters from city's right of way in the face of seizure

The public works committee pointed out that because scooters are illegal under state law, the city can not lift its ban. Meanwhile, the order will give them the authority to seize the scooters, Bauman said, "… put [ing] some structure to the process of how to handle these things on the street."

Bird disagrees with the city, arguing that scooters are designed for street use, just like bicycles, and should be regulated accordingly.

"Motorized scooters, like Bird, are neither defined nor prohibited by the law of Wisconsin or Milwaukee. We believe that Milwaukee can go ahead immediately with a pilot program, "says Bird, in one of his reports.

" However, removing birds from the streets of Milwaukee, even temporarily, would have a negative effect on this mode of transport more and more popular. by removing this option which has allowed many people in the city to reduce their dependence on cars for short trips.

The company's dumping strategy has inspired similar reactions from cities across the country, including San Francisco Cisco, which recently removed the scooters, and Nashville, Tennessee, which issued a letter of termination and to be busy with more than 250 scooters.

His latest goal, New York City, simply does not have room for scooters, reports The New York Times. A spokesman for the city's transportation department said that they were illegal, according to the Times article, though they were not enforced.

In response to the Milwaukee trial, a spokesman for Bird wrote:

The California-based LimeBike deploys motorcycles and scooters without dock and motorized.

And about Lime?

Similar to Bird, Lime is a start-up of motorbikes and scooters-shareless valued at more than $ 1 billion. But unlike Bird, Lime spent the last few months feeling in town before starting

The company presented to startups and technology communities in Milwaukee in April at an event hosted by Startup Milwaukee, and on May 4 it hosted a happy hour where the people could test scooters and bikes. "We do not just want to show ourselves," said a Lime representative at the Sentinel Journal in April. "We want to make sure that – we present ourselves, we are sought after."

If Lime comes to Milwaukee, he will probably only offer scooters, a spokesman recently said.

Watch the lawsuit against Bird closely, as the Federal Court's decision would affect his own scooter sharing operation.

Drivers of locally managed Bublr bikes also monitor scooter developments. Bublr bicycles use home stations and the non-profit service has about 87 stations in the city and several suburbs.

RELATED: Bublr Bikes Holds Fundraiser, LimeBike considers Milwaukee

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