The University will not impound e-scooters as previously suggested in a new policy, according to a statement given to Student Government Board member Nina Rivera.
At SGB’s weekly meeting in Nordy’s Place on Tuesday night, Rivera reported learning in a meeting with Pitt’s director of mobility, Jonathan Pearson, that the office is not impounding e-scooters. A recent e-scooter ban indicated that Pitt may impound vehicles parked on campus.
Pitt recently announced a policy banning e-scooters from being parked or stored anywhere on campus, with an effective date of Aug. 1. It said e-scooters found on campus would be subjected to fines and impoundment by the university, with a first offense fine of $100 and a second offense fine of $200.
Pearson explained in a statement that rather than impounding the scooters, the mobility office has “found scooter locks that will allow the scooter to be locked where it is located and a citation will be issued with contact information to pay any associated fine and have the e-scooter released.”
He also explained that under the new policy, there appears to be a reduced number of e-scooters on campus. He added that the mobility office has issued warnings to e-scooters, though “not nearly as many as expected.”