More Shared Electric Bikes And Scooters Are Coming To Sacramento

Starting next month, as many as 2,000 shared electric bicycles and scooters will be available on Sacramento streets.

That’s a significant increase over what’s currently out there.

Starting this week, Uber’s Jump brand, the only shared bike and scooter provider currently in Sacramento, plans to nearly double its fleet of roughly 600 to more than 1,100.

“My understanding is that their scooters are getting a lot of use, so we’ll probably see an increase in the number of scooters, more so than an increase in the number of bikes,” says Jennifer Donlon Wyant, the city’s transportation planning manager.

She says three other companies — Bird, Lime and Spin — are also set to begin operating in the city next month.

Wyant says the city has been getting both good and bad feedback regarding Jump.

“We know that the devices are being used a lot,” she said. “We are a very, very popular market for these devices. And we, of course, have gotten reports that maybe some folks aren’t parking them properly, which we’ll be addressing with our new ordinance.”

Wyant says the ordinance calls for fining companies if their bikes or scooters are blocking sidewalks. It also requires a parking space for each unit, paid for by the companies, but provided by the city.

“We found that we are more cost effective at doing it and it’s just easier for us to do,” she said. “We’re pros at it. Our crews know how to install bike racks like there’s no tomorrow.”

Under the city agreement, the companies can add up to 250 new bikes and scooters each quarter.