Lawton City Council to consider electric scooter pilot program

The City of Lawton wants to partner with a private firm to give Lawton its first scooter rental system.

City Council members will be asked to finalize a contract today that would create a pilot program for a stand-up electric scooter rental system that will be established in the community by Bird Rides Inc., a company based in Miami, Florida.

In her agenda commentary, Community Services Director Charlotte Brown said the firm approached city officials a year ago to ask if Lawton would be interested in partnering to provide the rental electric scooters, and city staff has been evaluating the request since then. Brown said city officials are ready to recommend the council accept the pilot program, one that would operate in Lawton for 12 months.

According to the agenda commentary, a third-party operator will be designated with taking care of the scooters, delivering them to destinations, and charging them. The City of Lawton will receive 10 cents per ride from each rental. Bird Rides already operates electric scooter rental facilities across the nation, with locations to include Oklahoma City (which allowed the firm to resume operations in 2021 after crafting an ordinance which controls operations).

The contract being provided to the City Council on its consent agenda also sets operational guidelines for any “proposed deployment of Stand-Up Electric Scooter sharing systems within the City’s jurisdictional boundaries.” They include defining electric scooters (weighing less than 150 pounds and powered by electric and/or human power and maximum speed of 20 miles per hour); specifying where they may be used (streets, bike lanes and bike paths); hours of operation for rental (4 a.m. to midnight); where they may be parked; and details such as customer service, data sharing and insurance.

The contract does not say when the service will begin.

In other business, the council will consider a recommendation from city engineers to approve a professional services agreement with GH2 Architects to provide design services for the animal welfare building project.

The firm is to provide an analysis of the existing facility, and two conceptual design options: renovations and additions to the existing facility; and a replacement facility. Work is to include contingency or interim improvements for temporary facilities or improvements to the existing facility necessary until a new facility can be built. Cost estimates also are to be included. The firm is to be paid $15,200 for its work.

Council members have been discussing the animal shelter on the south side of the Public Works Yard and its overcrowding problem, with discussion to include the potential of restricting communities outside Lawton from using the facility so more room is available for animals from Lawton.