Six months after orange e-scooters debuted downtown, Fort Myers officials are weighing whether to expand the pilot program citywide.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The scooters are currently limited to the River District, where early ridership data suggests steady demand, operator Spin told City Council. During the program\u2019s first six months, 5,109 unique riders took 11,938 trips and logged 21,628 miles.\u00a0<\/p>\n
At a Jan. 12 City Council workshop, Spin presented its six-month evaluation and outlined a potential second phase of the pilot. Council members are expected to vote at a future meeting on whether to expand the program, which could allow scooters throughout much of the city, double Spin\u2019s fleet to about 200 scooters and extend operating hours from midnight to 2 a.m., with availability beginning at 6 a.m.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThis isn\u2019t just a novelty tourism type of transportation anymore,\u201d said Bruno Lopes, Spin\u2019s director of government partnerships. \u201cIt really has become a true form of transportation for some folks.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
About 25% of riders were tourists, while the rest were local users, Spin reported. Ridership peaked on weekends and during evening hours. Spin also recorded 3,697 instances in which potential riders opened the app after midnight, when scooters were no longer available, suggesting demand for later hours.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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A rider travels through downtown Fort Myers on a Spin electric scooter, part of a pilot program officials say has shown steady demand but raised safety concerns.<\/p>\n
Evan Williams<\/p>\n
Founded in 2016, Spin operates in cities nationwide, alongside competitors such as Lime and Bird. E-scooter programs have expanded rapidly in recent years, according to the National Association of City Transportation Officials, though results have been mixed. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission also has linked scooters to an increase in emergency department visits.\u00a0<\/p>\n
While Fort Myers has not seen any major scooter-related incidents, city officials raised concerns about safety and potential liability, including collisions on sidewalks.\u00a0<\/p>\n
City Attorney Grant Alley urged the city to conduct a risk management analysis before expanding the program, particularly as lawmakers consider changes to Florida\u2019s sovereign immunity laws. House Bill 145 could more than double the current caps on personal injury claims against government entities.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe run the risk of having a potential financial drain with respect to the scooters,\u201d Alley said. \u201cIf we were to do any expansion, we should increase the liability protection the city would have.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Current rules require riders to use the street and follow traffic laws.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cTwice I\u2019ve almost gotten hit by a scooter that is coming behind\u201d on the sidewalk, council member Diana Giraldo said. \u201cI feel very uncomfortable expanding the area and expanding the number of scooters we have for this. I think it would be irresponsible for us as a council at this moment.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Lopes said Spin is willing to adjust an expansion plan to address concerns, including limiting scooters to specific areas or reducing speeds.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhatever it takes,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The scooters currently have a maximum speed of 12 mph and are tracked by GPS, with geofencing used to restrict where they can operate.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Council member Liston Bochette questioned whether the city has sufficient infrastructure, such as clear street markings, to support a broader rollout. He suggested smaller, incremental expansions into adjacent neighborhoods like Dean Park.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Electric scooters operated by Spin are staged in the River District, where the pilot program is currently limited.<\/p>\n
Evan Williams<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a solution here, I just don\u2019t know what it is yet,\u201d Bochette said.\u00a0<\/p>\n