E-scooter trends emerging in 2019
In advance of making the decision to extend the pilot program, PBOT reviewed available data from April 26 through Nov. 30. Data included utilization of scooters, enforcement efforts, and injury reports.
Findings from the period include:
Riders took 954,156 trips and traveled 1,014,671 miles. Combined with trips during the 2018 pilot, e-scooter riders in Portland have cumulatively taken 1,654,485 trips and traveled 1,816,559 total miles. Companies report having tens of thousands of customers in Portland. From the 2018 pilot program, PBOT learned that e-scooters replaced driving and ride-hailing trips: 34% of Portland riders and 48% of visitors reported using an e-scooter instead of driving a personal car or using Uber, Lyft, or a taxi.
In response to public input during the 2018 pilot, PBOT regulatory and parking enforcement staff have been issuing warnings and fines to e-scooter companies, which are required to pass them onto their riders. PBOT staff have issued 57 warnings and 723 penalties for instances of improper parking and sidewalk riding.
Multnomah County Health Department identified 183 visits to emergency departments and urgent care clinics that were related to e-scooters. Their analysis includes all e-scooter related visits, including privately owned as well as rented e-scooters, from April 26 to Sept. 30. MCHD will continue to monitor injury visits throughout the pilot program.
