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The City of Baltimore is Now Accepting Permit Applications for its Dockless Vehicle Program
Operator permit applications will be accepted through May 20, 2022
BALTIMORE, MD (May 3, 2022) - Today, Mayor Brandon M. Scott and Baltimore City Department of Transportation (BCDOT) Director Steve Sharkey announced that Baltimore City is now accepting permit applications for its Dockless Vehicle for Hire Program, a permit program established back in 2019.
Through the City’s dockless vehicle sharing program, residents are able to rent electric scooters and bikes. Dockless vehicles are a convenient and sustainable way to travel because they do not need to be parked in specific bike racks for rental or at any other designated locations. They are equipped with GPS technology which allows users to find vehicles throughout the city. In Baltimore, an average of 100,000 trips are taken with dockless vehicles each month.
Companies that wish to operate dockless vehicles in Baltimore City must have a valid permit, and Dockless Vehicle for Hire Permit Applications are now being accepted by BCDOT. Under the operating permit, companies will abide by the revised Rules and Regulations developed by BCDOT and its partners. These regulations affect: fleet size, parking requirements, equity zones and distribution, rider education, equity of access, safety and vehicle standards, and data reporting formats. Permit holders maintain, deploy, and are required to offer equitable access to electric scooters and bicycles for rent throughout the city. The permit regulations and the public comment report detailing annual revisions to the permit can be found on the BCDOT website.
All completed permit applications will be scored to select companies that will work to promote safety, maintain equitable access to vehicles, and excel in the service they provide to city communities. A committee of representatives from BCDOT, the Law Department and the Department of Planning will use a strict rubric to score applications based on the needs of Baltimore City for a safe, equitable, and successful program.
BCDOT will permit up to three (3) dockless vehicle companies this year. One permit has already been awarded to Spin, whose permit was renewed based on compliance and community rankings. Permit applications for the remaining two (2) permits will be accepted through May 20, 2022. The awarded permits will become active on July 1, 2022 and expire in one year, with the possibility of a one-year extension.
The permit application, permit rules, Public Comment Report and additional information can be viewed by visiting the BCDOT website.
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