Three Shared Mobility Operators Selected for Council-Directed Second Pilot

May 11, 2021 4:06 PM

In a memo released today, the City of Santa Monica’s Chief Mobility Officer selected Spin, Veo, and Lyft to participate in the City’s second Shared Mobility Pilot Program, slated to begin on July 1, 2021. This follows City Council direction on March 9, 2021, to implement a second pilot program that would build on the first, include new technologies that can improve public safety, consider different device types to meet the needs of different users, and select up to four shared mobility operators to help drive competition. The second pilot program is designed to continue to develop a regulatory structure, ensure effective compliance with applicable laws and promote the health, safety, and wellbeing of everyone in the community.

The Chief Mobility Officer Francie Stefan made the de novo decision based on the recommendations of a Selection Committee, device demonstrations, and materials submitted by the eight operators that applied. The three highest-ranking operators across the categories of experience, compliance, local preference, device durability and suitability, maintenance and operations, sustainability, safety and rider behavior features, education and outreach, affordability, and customer service are Spin, Veo, and Lyft. These companies bring a wide range of experience and device types that will allow the City to conduct a comprehensive and informative second pilot program.  

Four device types will be offered among the three operators, including a three-wheeled e-scooter and a smaller class 2 e-bike, expanding the device portfolio to attract users with different needs and preferences. The initial fleet size is set at 2,000 to accommodate the larger footprint of the devices as well as the current number of devices in the community today. This number will change based on utilization and can never exceed 3,250 total devices based on the Administrative Regulations.

 

Veo 

Spin 

Lyft 

Total 

e-scooters, 2-wheel 

200 

500 

 

700 

e-scooters, 3-wheel 

 

200 

 

200 

e-bikes, class 1 

 

 

600 

600 

e-bikes, class 2 

500 

 

 

500 

Total Devices 

700 

700 

600 

2,000 

The City now offers 175 drop hub stations citywide for safe and convenient pickup and drop off of shared mobility devices, including the stations formerly used for Breeze Bike Share.

The pilot is effective beginning July 1, 2021 through March 30, 2023. A two-week appeal period closes May 26, 2021 with appeal decisions released by June 22.

For more information on the March 9 City Council decision, including the goals for the 21-month pilot program, see this press release. In addition to the decision memo, the Selection Committee also released a memo here.

For more information, visit smgov.net/sharedmobility.

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Media Contact

Constance Farrell
Communications & Public Information Manager
Constance.Farrell@santamonica.gov

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