Bird and Lime scooters have been zipping around Louisville for months, but soon they may not be the only ones.

Five operators have been issued licenses since they were approved, the city confirmed to Courier Journal this week, including three since Derby weekend.

City policy, when originally approved, allowed for four dockless vehicle operators in Louisville at a time. But when asked how the city would pick two additional companies from the five licensed, Public Works spokesman Harold Adams said the number of operators allowed has been increased to eight.

Adams said Thursday that the city had changed its operator limit in February. The city's website still links to the policy approved last September, which includes the cap at four operators.

The five additional licensed operators — Spin, Jump, Cycle Hop (HOPR), Lyft and Bolt — have yet to drop their dockless vehicles off on city sidewalks, or "deploy fleets."

Adams declined to give a time frame for when residents might see them, deferring to the companies themselves.

Previously:Bird scooters are staying in Louisville, and more could be on the way

Emails sent to each company's local contact were not immediately returned. Some deferred to their main public relations contacts and others didn't return subsequent voicemails.

Each of the newly licensed operators hold probationary licenses, which the September city policy states expire after six months. Subsequent licenses are "non-probationary, full operating licenses" that expire 12 months after issuance.

Here's when the city says it granted probationary licenses to each company:

Spin: April 8

Jump: Dec. 21, 2018

Cycle Hop (HOPR): July 1

Lyft: May 20

Bolt: May 30

Most appear to offer e-scooters, and some may drop e-bikes or nonelectric bikes, as well. Per city policy, companies can begin their fleets with 150 dockless vehicles, but can increase based on popularity.

If ridership exceeds four rides per vehicle per day, the companies may increase their fleet by 100 vehicles per month, up to 650 during the probationary period. Ultimately, operators will be permitted 1,050 vehicles, if they successfully complete the probationary period and meet performance standards, a prior news release stated.

The vehicles are called "dockless" because riders can leave them wherever their ride ends. They're located, unlocked and paid for via a smartphone app. "Chargers" or "juicers" scoop scooters up at night to charge them and then return them to the city streets.

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The local contact for HOPR, Matt Glaser, told Courier Journal by phone that there was no timeline he could provide for when Louisville might see the company's dockless vehicles, and declined to say what attracted the company to the city.

HOPR's website says it offers "a variety of electric and nonelectric bikes and scooters," but Glaser didn't say what products Louisville might see soon.

Frank Speek, from Spin, didn't immediately respond to Courier Journal questions, including when vehicles may land, but the company advertises shared electric scooters.

Jump, owned by Uber, also did not respond to an email or voicemail from Courier Journal. It offers "on-demand e-bikes and scooters."

Lyft's local contact redirected questions to its main press team, which did not immediately respond, but its website shows that the popular ride-sharing app also offers bikes and scooters in some places.

Electric scooters (Bird scooters, to be specific) arrived in Louisville last summer for about 36 hours, but were then quickly scooped up and removed while the city hashed out an agreement pertaining to parking and safety issues.

The city and Bird ultimately reached a tentative agreement with the app-based, motorized scooter company that extended their lifespan on city streets, which eventually became permanent.

Read more:Bird scooter injuries are stacking up. Here's how Louisville is faring

Dockless vehicles, mostly scooters, frustrated municipal leaders across the country when they appeared in the last few years, but many now are making peace with them.

Transit experts see scooters as another way for commuters to bridge the link from their homes to bus stops or rail stations, USA TODAY reported.

In Louisville, city policy allows dockless vehicles to operate within the Watterson Expressway with extensions in the south to Palatka Road to include Iroquois Park and west to Shawnee Park.

The scooters may not run at Waterfront Park, which offers its own bike rental service.

The policy also states that:

Each operator will provide the city with a map and list of all parking locations for their vehicles.

Dockless vehicles shall be relocated or removed by an operator within two hours’ notice that the vehicle is parked in an incorrect manner. Monthly data reports are required to ensure all rules are being observed.

Dockless vehicles are to be operated on streets and, where available, in bike lanes and bike paths. Vehicles should only be operated on sidewalks when leaving or accessing a parking location.

In addition to a license application fee, annual fee, bond and fee for a designation group parking area, operators will pay $1 a day per vehicle. These funds will go directly to fund improvements to our city’s shared mobility infrastructure. Other fines and administrative penalties are included to ensure compliance.

Earlier:Surprise, surprise. Louisville's Bird scooter riders are breaking the rules

Darcy Costello: 502-582-4834; dcostello@courier-journal.com; Twitter: @dctello. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: courier-journal.com/darcyc.