LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18)–E-scooters are a topic of conversation at Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Council meeting.
To help traffic congestion, electric scooters are being used in cities across the country, but cities like Nashville are re-thinking e-scooters. The mayor even considered banning them after too many scooter-related injuries, including one death.
There’s also the issue of people “using and abusing” them when they are dumped instead of returned to the proper docking stations.
In Lexington, it is illegal to ride e-scooters on sidewalks, people must use bike lanes, paths, or the road if that is the only option.
4th District Councilmember Susan Lamb is trying to pass an ordinance that would require scooter companies to pay for a $5,000 permit to operate and face a $500 fine if the scooter is dumped somewhere it is not allowed for more than two hours. She said the ordinance would also limit the number of scooters on the streets, 2,000 divided between five companies.
She hopes that the council passes it for safety reasons.
“This concerns me greatly concerns me, even more now that we don’t have any we can regulate the companies when they come to town, because they’re coming,” said Lamb.
The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council could take a first reading on the ordinance Thursday night.
