1201 Sixth Avenue West, Suite 100 ... - Bradenton, Florida

1201 Sixth Avenue West, Suite 100 Bradenton, FL 34205

nueurbanconcepts@ 833-NUC-8484 (o) 352-363-0614 (c)

October 12th, 2020

Mr. Carl Callahan City Administrator City of Bradenton 101 Old Main Street 1001 Sarasota Center Boulevard Bradenton, FL 34205

Re: City of Bradenton Micromobility System Ordinance

Dear Mr. Callahan:

A Micromobility System Ordinance has been prepared for consideration by the City Council to regulate the short-term rental of electric bicycles and / or motorized scooters, collectively known as micromobility devices. The Florida Legislature adopted House Bill 453 that established statutory requirements on bicycle and/or scooter share programs, defined as micromobility devices per Section 316.003, Florida Statute. The City of Bradenton currently has a moratorium on the rental of micromobility devices in anticipation of the preparation of a regulating ordinance.

Upon review of micromobility ordinances in communities throughout the U.S. and the Cities of Clearwater, Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando, St. Petersburg, Tampa, Tallahassee, and West Palm Beach. For major metropolitan areas such as Tampa and Orlando, there are large enough population, employment and visitor demand to support several private companies offering micromobility devices. However, even in these markets and similar large-scale markets throughout the U.S., the number of providers has been declining due to both increased competition and government regulations, which vary by City and State.

Due to the size of the Bradenton market, it is recommended that the City select a single operator (company) to provide a bicycle and/or scooter share programs (micromobility devices) for short term rental. This will provide an opportunity for a micromobility operator to make an investment in the community and to provide a mobility system that if fiscally viable. Selecting a single provider will also enable the City to effectively manage and oversee the micromobility operator and the deployment of micromobility devices in the City. Past experiences in other cities throughout the US have shown that a city's transportation systems can be overwhelmed with multiple micromobility operators providing electric bicycles and motorized scooters, resulting in complaints from residents and business of user riding devices in an unsafe manner or leaving devices that block sidewalks and access to private property. A single operator will allow for easier enforcement of regulations and provide a single point of contact for residents to report any issues.

Micromobility System Ordinance Summary

The City will be required to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) to select a single micromobility operator. In addition, the City will be required to prepare a permit and license application to establish criteria for the operation of a micromobility system within the City. The RFP and permit process would establish the time frame for operation of micromobility system, the minimum number of micromobility devices to be provided, the location of parking areas for devices, data sharing, fee and insurance requirements for the micromobility operator.

As an alternative, the City could establish an application and permit process that opened up the provision of a micromobility system to multiple operators. This would require additional City staff to manage multiple operators and experience from other communities has shown that providers would be less inclined to make longer term investments in the community. Further, multiple operators, as has been experienced in other communities, would potentially result in confusion with the reporting of issues from residents and businesses.

Florida Statute allows for micromobility devices to be operated in all locations where bicycles are permitted. The City Code of Ordinances does not currently have any regulations for bicycles within the City. The proposed Micromobility System Ordinance provides standards for bicycles and in turn makes those standards applicable to micromobility devices. The following are the locations where bicycles and micromobility devices are permitted and two locations where they are proposed to be restricted:

? Bicycles and micromobility devices are permitted to be used on all sidewalks, except where prohibited through signs and markings.

? Bicycles and micromobility devices are permitted to be used on all bike lanes, paved shoulders, paths, trails and the Riverwalk, except where prohibited through signs and markings or Florida Statutes. Currently Statutes restrict motorized devices on certain greenways and trails.

? Bicycles and micromobility devices are permitted to be used on all roads, except where bicycle use is prohibited by Federal and State regulations. Currently bicycles are restricted on limited access facilities such as Interstate 75.

? It is proposed that bicycles and micromobility devices be prohibited from using sidewalks on the following two streets:

o Old Main Street from 1st Avenue West to 6th Avenue East; and

o 12th Street West from 9th Avenue West to 13th Avenue West

? The City may wish to prohibit bicycles and micromobility devices on additional sidewalks.

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Micromobility System Ordinance Summary

The maximum speed limit for operation of bicycles and micromobility devices on sidewalks is 15 MPH, unless the City establishes lower speed limits. The City may wish to establish additional zones for maximum speed limits, beyond those established below. The lowest practical speed limit would be five (5) MPH. The following are the facilities and locations where maximum speed limits of 10 MPH are proposed:

? The Riverwalk;

? Downtown whose boundaries would be: 1st Avenue West to the north, 9th Street West to the east, 6th Avenue West to the south and 15th Street West to the west; and

? Village of the Arts whose boundaries would be: 9th Avenue West to the north, 9th Street West to the east, 13th Avenue West to the south and 14th Street West to the west;

To effectively manage an initial micromobility system, it is proposed that a maximum deployment area be established. A deployment area is a geographic boundary where micromobility devices provided by a mobility operator are permitted to be operated. The deployment area could be expanded to be citywide. However, given the number of unincorporated County enclaves on the periphery of the City, and the fact outside of the Form Based Code area most streets and roads are County and State facilities, the proposed deployment area is less than citywide. The following are the proposed limits of the deployment areas:

? The northern limits would be the Manatee River; ? The eastern limits would be 27th Street East; ? The southern limits would be 13th Avenue East and 17th Avenue West; and ? The western limits would be 26th Street West.

As an alternative, the City may wish to establish 15th Street East as the eastern boundary and 15th Street West as the western boundary. It is recommended that enlargement of the deployment area beyond that recommended should occur after a micromobility system is established, a micromobility system operator is selected and there is at least six (6) months of use of the micromobility devices. Establishing too large of a deployment area will be difficult to manage.

It is proposed that parking of micromobility devices be located in fixed locations within corrals, docks, racks and stations. It is proposed that the micromobility operator recommend locations, subject to City approval. It is also recommended that a period of up to six (6) months be provided to finalize locations. The City, through the RFP and permit process could establish locations where parking would be provided prior to the deployment of micromobility devices.

There following are three (3) locations where parking is proposed to be prohibited:

? Along the Riverwalk; ? Along the sidewalk on Old Main Street between 1st Avenue West and 6th Avenue West; and ? Along the sidewalk on 12th Street West between 9th Avenue West and 13th Avenue West.

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Micromobility System Ordinance Summary

Micromobility system operators have the ability, through geo-fencing technology, to limit the speed of micromobility devices, to establish deployment areas where micromobility devices are not permitted to be operated outside off, and to establish areas where parking is not prohibited. The geo-fencing as is relates to speed gradually slows down micromobility devices within restricted speed zones to the maximum speed limit. The geo-fencing as is relates to deployment areas will gradually slows down micromobility devices outside of deployment areas to the point they will no longer work. The geo-fencing as is relates to parking will not allow a user to end their ride or turn the device off if they propose to leave the micromobility device in an area where parking is restricted.

Geo-fencing technology is not a catchall as users could still pedal an electric bicycle faster than the speed limit or manually power a motorized scooter. This occurs when speed limits are set at 5 MPH. Where limits are set not to exceed 10 MPH, the heavier weight of micromobility devices naturally limits the speed limit achievable by human power. Geo-fencing also does not prohibit a user from manually operating a micromobility device outside of a deployment area. In addition, geo-fencing also will not always dissuade a user from parking in a restricted area if the person does not care about excess credit card charges or being banned from use of the device in the future. However, for most users, additional credit card charges and the ability to use the devices in the future are enough of an incentive for them to comply with geo-fencing requirements.

A draft map of the deployment areas, the restricted speed zones and the prohibited sidewalk locations is provided as an attachment. The draft micromobility system ordinance is also provided as an attachment. There are additional steps that need to be taken as it relates to an RFP and establishing permit and license requirements. An additional moratorium extension will be needed. However, with the draft ordinance and the framework provided, the next steps in the process should proceed in a timelier fashion. The current Scope of Services does not address establishment of an RFP or a permit or license process. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or request for additional information.

Sincerely,

Jonathan B. Paul

Jonathan B. Paul, AICP Principal

Attachments:

Draft Micromobility System Map

Draft Micromobility System Ordinance

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Draft Micromobility System Map

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