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(Nov. 13, 2018) The Portland Bureau of Transportation has issued penalties totaling $9,000 to Skip, an e-scooter company, for violating the rules of the bureau's Shared E-Scooter Pilot Program.
Skip failed to provide at least 100 e-scooters a day in East Portland as required by the program. It also failed to deploy at least 90 percent of the total number of e-scooters the company has permits for, in violation of the program's rules.
PBOT issued a penalty of $4,500 for failing to deploy at least 100 scooters in East Portland, an area of the city that has historically been underserved by the transportation system. The City of Portland's 2035 Comprehensive Plan defines the area's geographic boundaries, which has suburban scale development, and a high proportion of immigrant communities and people living on low-incomes that are dependent on public transit service.
"We will hold e-scooter companies accountable for service in East Portland," Transportation Commissioner Chloe Eudaly said. "E-scooter companies must show us that they can follow the rules set out by our program. It is unfair to Portlanders in East Portland for companies to fall short of reasonable public access requirements."
PBOT assessed penalties of $300 a day for each of the two violations, totaling $4,500 each. The penalties stem from violations for 15 days from Oct. 17 to Oct. 31.
PBOT regulates e-scooter companies within the city limits. E-scooter rider conduct is governed by state law and separate city codes.
PBOT issued a second penalty of $4,500 to Skip for violating a requirement to have at least 90 percent of the company's fleet deployed each day during the pilot program. The requirement is designed to help Portlanders, city officials and the companies better understand the potential benefits of access to shared e-scooters.
Skip is allowed to have 683 e-scooters in operation in the city, one third of the total allowed. If there were no minimum number of e-scooters required to be in operation, companies could obtain a high number of permits to reduce the number of permits available to their competitors. This would also reduce the availability of the vehicles to the public and impact PBOT's ability to learn about the potential effectiveness of this emerging transportation technology.
PBOT will not penalize the company for days when it decided not to provide scooter service because of rainy weather.
Portland's e-scooter pilot program will end Nov. 20, and e-scooters will be off the streets starting Nov. 21. In early 2019, PBOT will share findings and data from the pilot program, and seek public input on next steps for e-scooter service in Portland.
Learn more about the Shared Electic Scooter Pilot Program
On the web: portlandoregon.gov/transportation/e-scooter
Send questions or concerns about e-scooters to us by email:
E-scooter@portlandoregon.gov
By phone: 503-823-7483
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The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) is the steward of the City’s transportation system, and a community partner in shaping a livable city. We plan, build, manage and maintain an effective and safe transportation system that provides access and mobility.
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