MILWAUKEE — The problems keep on coming for electric scooters in Milwaukee, so Lime is taking matters into their own hands by establishing a presence in the city to make sure they stick around.
Members of the Lime team are hitting the streets of Milwaukee, holding two educational events this weekend. The first was at a Running Rebels block party Friday afternoon.
It comes after the mayor placed the pilot program on hold after receiving several complaints about users riding on sidewalks and obstructing pedestrian's right of way. As a result, Lime could not increase their fleet in the city, at least for the time being. There's also a temporary pause on the two other companies that want to see their scooters on our streets.
Kevin Duran of Lime said their events are designed to teach people how to work the scooters and educate them on the city's rules. The first rule is no riding on the sidewalks.
“We do want to be here for the long run, so we also want to, you know make, sure we get the education out efforts upfront,” Duran said.
However, TODAY'S TMJ4 didn't hear instructors spelling out the city's rules, and the same went for the riders we spoke to.
“He told me about the safety instructions but not about the rules on the road,” rider, Tuyet Vance, said.
After taking this information to Duran, he had this to say.
“We want to make sure that everyone understands we do not want to be riding scooters on the sidewalk or on the Riverwalk,” Duran said.
The company emphasizes that they’re putting their best foot forward to encourage safe and proper riding, even increasing patrols in the city to address irresponsible behavior and adding a second tag to the scooters telling people not to ride on the sidewalks.
Riders feel it’s a step in the right direction.
“People don’t always listen and still do things, but hopefully it will make people more aware,” rider, Mikayla Hanson, said.
They hope that with time others will learn to follow the rules too.
“Everything that comes to a city, everyone doesn’t really know anything about it, and then once people start figuring it, out they’ll understand. It'll become part of traffic,” rider, Jack Policastro, said.
“If they don’t then it could ruin it for everyone,” Hanson added.
Lime will be holding another safety event from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Summerfest grounds in parking lot H. The first people to arrive will get a free helmet.
They're also partnering with Running Rebels, which tries to encourage youth to make positive choices in hopes to prevent them getting involved in drugs and violence. When you end a ride, you'll have the chance to donate to the organization.
