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ANN ARBOR, MI – As communities across the country struggle with the arrival of commendable electric scooters, Ann Arbor began confiscating scooters of birds left in the streets and sidewalks of the city.
The electric scooter sharing company known as Bird dropped dozens of scooters in Ann Arbor on Sept. 7, prompting the city to warn users quickly that they could carry them on sidewalks or park them in the streets.
Electric Bird Scooters in Downtown Ann Arbor
Now, the city is worried about the presence of bird scooters parked on public sidewalks, where most of them are stationed, claiming that this can impede pedestrian traffic.
A city employee who asked to remain anonymous shared the picture of Bird scooters locked up in a public works garage in the city last week, claiming that the city's community policymakers were confiscating them.
City spokeswoman Lisa Wondrash confirmed that more than two dozen Bird scooters had been confiscated in the city.
"The company has been informed that its equipment has been collected by the city and is stored securely in our public works facility," Wondrash said in an email. "The city hosts alternative modes of transportation for residents and visitors, and city staff are actively working with Bird on a licensing agreement."
Additional details on the potential license agreement were not immediately available.
Bird could not be reached for comment.
Wondrash said the city was not trying to rid Ann Arbor of all rental scooters, but they can not be left in public hold.
Wondrash shared this message from the city: "Do not leave parked scooters on roads, sidewalks or bike lanes and make sure they are clear of driveways, ramps and vents d & # 39; fire. "
The city offers these additional tips to bird users: "Always wear a helmet and, once you have finished driving, it is important to prevent scooters from interfering with the right-of-way public when they are stored. "
Since Bird's current model seems to rely on public sidewalks for users to retrieve, these restrictions could be a problem for the company.
Wondrash said that it was a safety issue and that scooters had to be left in a safe place not to prevent pedestrians or other people.
Wondrash said the city was not worried about scooters if they were left on private property and the city did not confiscate scooters because of concerns about the fall and injury of motorcyclists.
The Washington Post recently reported that the deployment of electric scooters in some communities has resulted in serious injuries and emergency travel.
There are still dozens of non-confiscated Bird scooters for rent in Ann Arbor, and many are parked along city sidewalks in the downtown area and around the University of Michigan campus.
In the hope of expanding his business and encouraging more people to make environmentally friendly daily commutes, Bird tours the United States, bringing his scooters to many cities. and university campuses. In addition to Ann Arbor and Detroit, Bird also hit East Lansing, according to the company's website.
Scooters cost $ 1 to activate and 20 cents a minute to ride. They can travel up to 15 mph.
To use them, users must download the mobile application Bird, which indicates the location of the scooters on a map.
Bird encourages users to ride safely, wear a helmet and not ride on sidewalks.
According to the city ordinance, it is illegal to use a scooter or other motorized vehicle on the sidewalks.
According to national legislation, motorized scooters can not travel in cycle lanes, but they can operate on the road as close to the edge as possible.
Although many users drove bird scooters to the sidewalks, which the city warned, Ann Arbor Police Department, Lieutenant Renee Bush, said no one had been charged. by AAPD.
Kirk Westphal, a city council member, a supporter of alternative transportation, said that he has not seen any data indicating whether scooters replace car travel, but to the extent that they offer a way cleaner and more affordable transportation. to foster the relationship with Bird.
He said Bird surprised the city when he deployed his service to Ann Arbor.
"The surprise approach to introducing a new technology is not usually a government structure," he said. "I remember the collective panic when Uber and Lyft came on the scene, so I hope this process of acclimatization and legislation will have a long-term vision."
From the point of view of a defender of the rights of pedestrians and the disabled, it would be unacceptable that they pose an imminent danger to people.
Ann Arbor News intern, McKenzie Sanderson, contributed to this story.
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