The city of St. Petersburg is moving forward with rolling out a pilot program for e-scooters by 2020.
The city council voted 6-1, with councilman Steve Kornell being the sole no vote, to pass an ordinance amending the St. Petersburg city code by adding a new article to define micromobility, create regulations and licensing requirements for e-scooters, and regulate hoverboards.
St. Pete's housing, land use and transportation committee unanimously voted to move forward with implementing an e-scooter pilot program, which had to be sent to the city council for a decision.
Kornell had e-scooter safety concerns. "I get that it's good for people on the sidewalk, but I'm not sure if it's good for the e-scooter [riders being] next to a car," he said during the Thursday meeting, as the city's language indicates e-scooters are prohibited from riding on certain areas that could interfere with pedestrians.
Riding scooters would be prohibited on the Pinellas Trail west of 34th Street, and all waterfront trails would be prohibited on the North Bay Trail from Demen's Landing to Coffee Pot Park.
They would also be banned at the Pier District and sidewalks except for the purposes of parking, and when parking and must not obstruct a building entrance or pedestrian walkway. The scooters would be able to be parked on the sidewalk in designated corrals; the type of corral hasn't been determined.
However, hoverboards, which are considered motorized toys, can be ridden on certain sidewalks.
Transportation and Parking Management Director Evan Mory said vendors may use geofencing to enforce good behavior on e-scooters to stop the use of them in prohibited areas.
There is also an age restriction. No one under 16 years of age is permitted to ride a motorized scooter.
A public hearing and second reading will take place on Oct. 17.
Mory said he anticipates there to be two to three vendors when the city is ready to advertise a request for proposals for vendors to submit bids.
Tampa started its e-scooter pilot program earlier this year with four vendors. Although there have been some issues and concerns, there have been more than 50,000 trips taken on the device.
