The E-Scooter Pilot Program started April 26, 2019 and lasts through December 31, 2020. It follows a 120-day pilot program in 2018 that showed e-scooters have the potential to help reduce congestion and pollution. Following the pilot, PBOT will evaluate the program and engage the public to develop recommendations for permanent rules for shared e-scooter use for the City Council to consider.

Our 2018 E-Scooter Findings Report is here! Click to find out more.

What is a Shared Electric Scooter?

E-scooters are an emerging technology and new mobility service. Like bike-share and car-share, the service provides a shared vehicle—in this case, a small electric-powered scooter—to rent for one-way trips. This new service makes use of an existing technology—the scooters themselves—and adds app-based technology that provides the ability to share the devices using a short-term rental business model.

To begin a rental, users unlock a scooter through the company’s smartphone app. Some companies offer a call or text service to unlock for those without smartphones. To end a trip, users park the scooter on the sidewalk close to the curb and out of the pedestrian travel zone. Many companies require riders to confirm they have parked the e-scooter correctly by submitting a photo through the company’s app in order to end their rental.

E-scooters are powered almost exclusively by an electric motor, after an initial kick-off to start the device.

Questions? Email e-scooter@portlandoregon.gov.

Portland's Shared Scooter Pilot is a part of Smart City PDX. Learn more at smartcitypdx.com.

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