Southwest community concerned with lack of scooter enforcement at Wharf

Wharf resident Lloyd Lazzaro enjoys taking long walks around his neighborhood to decompress, take in the sun, and talk to other residents.  

However, these walks are getting harder to enjoy after almost getting knocked down by a scooter multiple times and getting into fights over the lack of etiquette riders have for pedestrians.  

“It’s just entitlement; everyone seems to do their own thing. It’s more of a consideration thing,” said Lazzaro.

Scooter enforcement has been a pressing issue in the district for years.  

Beth Hall, the president of the Southwest Neighborhood Assembly, said residents fear how fast scooters move on sidewalks with pedestrians rather than using the bike lanes intended for them.  

The recent scooter-on-scooter collision on Oct. 9 that killed Talib Shakir, director of the Mayor’s Office on Returning Citizen Affairs, has brought more attention to the issue.  

Hall said Advisory Neighborhood Committee 6D had been pushing the District Department of Transportation to enforce new regulations for riders and ensure pedestrians’ safety.  

After listening to residents’ concerns about scooters, DDOT implemented new regulations on Oct. 23 that would fine residents up to $100 for violating rules governing bicycles, scooters, and other low-speed vehicles.  

Some of the violations included parking a vehicle incorrectly, blocking the sidewalk from pedestrians, and failing to meet the basic standards.  

Antonio Suarez, public affairs specialist at the department, said in an email that DDOT will implement more low-speed vehicle rules over the upcoming months. These rules will address vehicle speed and sidewalk riding, as well as how to apply for a vehicle permit.  

 As the department rolls out these new rules, Southwest residents and local leaders are eager to say what they want to see.  

 Shamir Eckels, a long-time Wharf resident, has heard many concerns about robberies involving youth on scooters.  

 “I don’t understand why it is a gray area for law enforcement to retain this information,” Eckels said.   

 She said she is concerned about who registers teens for scooters since they don’t meet the legal age requirement to rent one on their own. 

She also said she doesn’t understand why it is difficult for law enforcement to track stolen scooters if a resident must sign up on an app with legal documentation.  

 While rental scooters do have apps where residents sign up, they often don’t require any legal documentation, and if a resident doesn’t create a profile, that can make it harder for law enforcement to track. 

Garrett Garcia, a member of the Safe Streets Task Force for the neighborhood assembly, said some of the DDOT’s potential regulations are similar to what the task force wants to see implemented.  

One feature is restricting the speed of scooters in bike lanes to 10-15 miles per hour and raising them to six mph on sidewalks, said Garcia. Another potential feature would be a front-facing camera location that would help determine a scooter’s location and speed, he added. 

While these new technology features would be a great advancement, Garcia said the council must push Lime to implement these changes and start a new generation of scooters. 

Garcia said he wants the department to focus on people who commit crimes and use scooters to get away.   

The problem is residents can pay for a scooter without creating a profile on their phone, which is how police would track who is on it, Garcia said. 

He wants a better tracking method for stolen vehicles because the current one is a “disservice to the community,” he added.  

Since rental companies will be looking to renew contracts with the district, the council should take into consideration what new rules to implement, Garcia said.

Mark Sussman, the founder of Hill Family Biking, said scooter users don’t understand what laws they need to follow to ensure pedestrian safety.  

After watching a series of unprotected bike lanes, Sussman said he created this organization alongside advocates, commissioners and government employees to promote regulations and hold community biking events to help residents feel safe and secure on the road.   

Many rules about governing e-bikes and scooters are different from those for cars, including the Bicycle Safety Amendment Act of 2013 which some residents are unaware of, said Sussman.  

It allows riders to cross with pedestrians at an intersection ahead of cars to limit right-hand collisions, he added. 

Some car drivers, if they are unaware of this law, may think the riders are breaking the law, which isn’t the case, said Sussman.  

Since drivers renew their vehicle licenses every 10 years, he added this would be a great opportunity to have a test that addresses pedestrian safety and new laws. 

The Wharf declined a request for comment.