Missoula postpones vote for e-scooter companies
MISSOULA, Mont. — On Monday night, Missoula City Council was supposed to vote on whether or not electric scooter companies like Bird or Lime should be allowed in town.
They first voted to define what is classified as an electric scooter and decided they are in a different category than electric bikes.
Then, a lengthy discussion ensued as members of the public expressed why they thought having electric scooter companies in town was a bad idea.
One member showed pictures of a junk yard in St. Louis where “electric bikes that didn’t work out in the city were dumped.” She then stated, “We have this zero waste by 2050 initiative, this is not zero waste, this is creating more waste, and even more toxic waste.”
While councilman Jordan Hess stated, “When we look at the more successful versions of shared mobility systems in other communities, like Portland’s pilot, a full 34% of scooter trips were vehicle trips avoided.”
City council voted to not make a decision yet. They will take this up in committee on a date that is to be determined.
