(Credit: KLBJ Staff)
The Austin Transportation Department has paused issuance of new licenses to dockless mobility operators while staff assesses the level of demand for currently licensed vehicles, including bicycles and scooters. The goal is to help ensure that companies are able to continue providing a safe, reliable, convenient transportation option for residents, while safeguarding mobility.
Austin Transportation staff will monitor the use of current licenses, including the average number of daily trips per deployed unit, through the monthly reports that companies are required to submit under City regulations. Staff will make a determination as to whether to resume issuing licenses once it has collected and analyzed data that indicate the level of demand for existing licensed devices during a typical period. Staff will continue to provide regular updates to the Mayor and City Council throughout this process.
Austin Transportation determines appropriate fleet sizes by gauging a variety of factors, which include:
- How many vehicles can be effectively managed by operators and their staff,
- Daily usage and geographical distribution of individual devices, and
- Safety and accessibility of the right of way
Currently, dockless mobility companies are limited to 500 units in the Downtown Austin Project Coordination Zone, with exceptions granted to companies which demonstrate best practices in device safety, usage and management. The total number of deployed units within the downtown zone must maintain a minimum average of two trips per day, determined by monthly usage.
Austin Transportation staff has also issued supplemental licenses in increments of 250 units outside of the downtown zone, on the condition that deployed units maintain a minimum average of three trips per day, determined my monthly usage.
