Scooters wheeled off streets of Miami

The city commission has mobilized and demobilized Miami’s scooter program several times since its inception in 2018, and looming concerns stall operations once again.

Commissioners debated the scooter program’s future for 20 minutes Oct. 27. They ultimately voted 3-2 to temporarily halt the program and continue the matter to their next meeting on Nov. 17.

While it wasn’t on the agenda, Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla moved to terminate scooter operations citing safety concerns and an unfair advantage to the lone vendor still participating in the pilot program. He wants a complete plan of action presented by the city manager at the next meeting.

“I don’t want on my conscience a death or somebody that gets maimed, or a kid becomes paraplegic as I have seen, and I have analyzed statistics not only in the US but in Europe about the danger of this,” said Commissioner Manolo Reyes, who voted with Commissioner Joe Carollo and Mr. Diaz de la Portilla to suspend scooter service in the city with three days’ notice.

Two proposals were heard Oct. 27 related to the scooter program. First, a resolution to award a request for proposal to new scooter vendors was deferred to the next meeting without discussion. Controversy arose when hearing the second proposal, an amendment to city code that would provide additional safety measures and other regulations.

Mr. Reyes said both items should be deferred, and the city attorney agreed, saying it would be less confusing if both were dealt with concurrently. This was when Mr. Diaz de la Portilla insisted the program be suspended in the interim so as not to give the only scooter vendor, Helbiz, an unfair advantage.

Commissioner Ken Russell, who represents District 2 where the scooter service was initiated in 2018, said he was willing to defer until the commission awards the new vendors but wanted to keep the program in place for his constituents who rely on it to get to and from work.

Mr. Russell explained that the pilot program the city operates is under safety rules that Mr. Diaz de la Portilla required and the reason there is only one remaining vendor is that the others didn’t comply with the regulations.

“The one remaining is complying with all the safety rules that you requested, so what other reason would we have to not allow them to operate in the period leading up to a new RFP?” Mr. Russell asked Mr. Diaz de la Portilla.

“What we need to do is go through a competitive process like we do here all the time and make sure we pick the right vendors that give us a better deal for the City of Miami and provide safety measures that we are advocating for,” Mr. Diaz de la Portilla responded. “I think the best thing we can do is stop the program and let’s get it right.”

After Chairwoman Christine King, Mr. Russell, and City Manager Arthur Noriega appealed several times to Mr. Diaz de la Portilla to keep the pilot scooter program in operation, it was clear Mr. Diaz de la Portilla was not changing his mind.

Mr. Diaz de la Portilla emphasized he wants to pass a comprehensive scooter program plan that addresses the issues in one fell swoop. “I want to make sure I go through a deliberative and thoughtful process to get to the right place,” he said. He said he wants to see through the competitive process for awarding new vendors, updating safety regulations, and an expansion of the program to include more areas such as the health district.

Mr. Diaz de la Portilla was adamant about terminating the program and wanted to act swiftly as it was nearing the end of their afternoon session. “I move that we direct the city manager to stop the program in three days and I want to take a vote on that, Madam Chair,” he said.

The motion passed 3-2 with Ms. King and Mr. Russell voting no. If the city manager cannot come back with a sufficient plan of action at the commission’s next meeting, Mr. Diaz de la Portilla said they would reinstate the pilot program as it was.

Helbiz, an intra-urban transportation company headquartered in New York City, has provided scooter service to the city since the pilot program started. In response to the commission’s decision to halt the program, a spokesperson for Helbiz said, “We look forward to returning to service in Miami and await their vote from the commission meeting on the 17th. Until then, we’ll be getting ready to offer our modern transportation services to the area.”