最新蜜桃影像

In October of 2018, e-scooters popped onto Arlington County streets. With little or no regulation, riders are zipping through Arlington traffic, and, at times, down city sidewalks.

This will soon change.

Arlington County Police told 最新蜜桃影像 about new e-scooter regulations they plan to be imposing this Fall as a response to the safety issues.

鈥淎dults 18 and older are supposed to be riding them but you see kids on them all over the place鈥� and we have all these bike lanes but you鈥檙e seeing them on the sidewalks,鈥� said Sergeant Al Taber of the ACPD. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know if you ever come to Clarendon, but you see two people on them who are intoxicated.鈥�

For the past year, riding safety suggestions have only come from the scooter companies approved for the ongoing : Bird, Bolt, JUMP, Lime, Lyft, Skip, and Spin.

Riders are instructed to keep off of sidewalks, to stay in designated bike lanes, and to always wear a helmet, said Department of Environmental Services,鈥� Peter Golkin.

Enforcement and ticketing for these suggestions have been suspended until Arlington鈥檚 County Board approves the new regulations. At this time, Arlington law enforcement officials will start a 鈥渃ampaign of warning,鈥� Sgt. Taber said.

The initial goal is to educate. Law enforcement will be handing out pamphlets after stopping those in violation of the newly enforceable rules. After the education period, which may last around ten days, law enforcement will begin penalizing violations of the rules with fines.

Scooter Rules Explanation

Currently, every officer has the discretion to stop scooter riders, but this doesn鈥檛 happen unless the rider is doing something “egregious,” said Ashley Savage, Public Information Officer for the ACPD.

鈥淢ost of the stuff doesn鈥檛 carry points, it鈥檚 just all fines,鈥� Taber said.

When 最新蜜桃影像 asked county officials about the monetary specifics of the fines, answers were vague.

After learning about the soon-to-be passed regulations, Arlington County resident, Nicole Walkow said, 鈥淏ike lanes aren鈥檛 always there鈥� and [riding on] the streets can be pretty scary, especially when drivers are hostile towards people on scooters.鈥�

Nonetheless, in the case of a non-existing bike lane, e-scooter riders should remain on the streets moving in line with vehicles, Golkin said.

Despite the existence of potholes, unenforced helmet laws, and often unfindable bike lanes, electric scooter accidents are relatively low in Arlington County, according to Savage.

鈥淔rom January 1 of 2018 through July 29th of this year, there have been a total of 12 crashes reported. So, not a significant amount of crashes reported in the county,鈥� Savage said.

Jason Gibson, Team Leader for Ballston鈥檚 Urgent Care, said it is a rare occurrence that he has a patient come in with a scooter injury. He, personally, hasn鈥檛 seen one. In his opinion, the biggest problem with scooters is that 鈥渢hey鈥檙e in the way.鈥�

Many Arlington walkers agree with Gibson鈥檚 sentiment.

Most of the complaints issued to the police department are by pedestrians coming in contact with scooters on congested sidewalks, said Sergeant Taber.

From May 15, to June 30, 2019, Arlington鈥檚 Department of Environmental Services held a formal public feedback process where residents could direct their complaints or support for the electric scooters, said Eric Balliet, who oversees the scooter pilot program for the DES.

鈥溾�� we had almost 700 emails that we received at our mobility@arlingtonva.us address. It was higher at the beginning but tapered off some over time,鈥� Balliet said.

Most of those complaints, Balliet said, were about electric scooters on sidewalks, obstructing walking paths, blocking building entrances, and scaring pedestrians.

鈥淭he emphasis [of the October regulations] is going to be to stay off of sidewalks and to stay towards the bike lanes,鈥� said Taber.

Law enforcement officials would not confirm exactly when they will begin passing out fines for improper e-scooter usage, but it could be as early as October.