[NFBWATlk] FW: Seattle's Scooter Program Needs Fixing

Sun Dec 14 09:03:44 UTC 2025

Passing on for you information.

From: Feet First <mail at networkforgood.com> 
Sent: Friday, December 12, 2025 1:45 PM
To: jacobstruiksma at gmail.com
Subject: Seattle's Scooter Program Needs Fixing

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Seattle’s Scooter and Bike Rentals Program Needs Fixing 

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Hi jacob!

At Feet First we have watched with growing concern as "micromobility" scooters have proliferated on Seattle's streets. And, more importantly from a pedestrian point of view, on our sidewalks. Shared scooters and bikes are in use in other parts of Washington, not just Seattle. We would love to hear from you about your experiences, concerns, and ideas - please see the end of this message for a link to contact us.

Anyone walking in Seattle can probably tell a story of a scooter blocking the sidewalk, curb ramp, public stairway, bus stop, etc. Too many of us have had close calls with people (illegally) riding scooters on sidewalks too close and too fast for comfort. Others have raised concerns that safety outcomes have not been reported or taken seriously. 

Seattle's response has been, in a word, inadequate. And while we'll have more to say on this topic, we want to start with offering some useful resources on the many issues Seattle has with scooters:

Former WSDOT Secretary Doug McDonald has written two good pieces on the Post Alley blog. The first reports on scooter accident data from SDOT and Harborview and SDOT’s reluctance to make those data available, and the second follows up wondering what it will take to get SDOT to respond. 

Seattle Times columnist Naomi Ishisaka has also penned two good ones. One reports that Seattle pedestrians are scared of scooters on the sidewalk, and the other reports that scooter accidents are on the rise.

The Seattle Times also published a guest editorial from Steve Olson detailing the commitments SDOT promised to place on its scooter rental program and finding none of those conditions have been met. He notes that “Seattle now has more than 15,000 scooters and e-bikes, including more than 12,000 stand-up and seated scooters — almost double the fleet size that was promised and far more than comparably sized cities like Denver, Portland or San Francisco.”

Feet First ’s priorities for scooter and bike rentals 

Feet First has a long list of changes we'd like to see. The top three priorities for us to reduce scooter impacts on pedestrian safety, accessibility, and comfort on sidewalks are:

*	Geofencing scooters away from densely pedestrian environments (Pike Place Market, University Way, stadium areas on game/event days, etc.). 
*	Utilizing vendor apps to fine riders who leave scooters where they should not be placed. 
*	Lower speed limits for vendor-provided scooters (that is, actually limit the speed on the vehicle itself) unless they can be prevented from riding on sidewalks. 

Tell us what YOU think

We are still developing our position on rideshare rental programs. We encourage you to check out the articles above, take a look at our priorities, and  <mailto:info at feetfirst.org?subject=Scooters> let us know what you think. Whether you work, visit, or live in Seattle, scooters are making walking more challenging. This issue needs the City's attention.

Feet First 
PO Box 4365
Seattle, WA 98194 
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