Scooters face regulation in San Jose

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KTVU) - The new transportation craze of riding scooters is sparking new government oversight in some cities.

San Francisco officials removed all motorized scooters while supervisors approved regulations for use.

Now, Silicon Valley’s largest city is following suit. Midday in San Jose sees pedestrians using the new way to get from here to there: Riding motorized scooters..

“It’s fun. Never tried it before. They’re not in my town, so I just wanted to give it a try,” said Ary Kamen, a San Jose State University freshman from Malibu.

A smart phone unlocks the scooters, and the user is charged by the mile or amount of time. In the ever increasing search to avoid vehicular gridlock, this seemed like a “Eureka” moment. But, bad press due to bad actors have put the devices in a bad light.

“Too many of the scooters they’re being ridden on the sidewalks by helmet-less riders weaving in and out. And the scooters are being left, in places, some of them block building entrances and ADA ramps and such,” said Scott Knies, the executive director of the San Jose Downtown Association.

Those complaints have reached San Jose City Hall, where leaders are taking a page from San Francisco’s playbook, and considering regulating scooter use.

“An overall limit on how many scooters can be deployed here in San Jose? Very clear regulations on where they can and can not be parked. And also an equity clause to make sure our low-income residents can this system,” said Colin Heyne of the San Jose Transportation Department.

Late Wednesday, Scott Knies of the San Jose Downtown Association wrote an op-ed which said the low-cost efficiency of the scooters must be balanced against public safety. Some users agree..

“If people are being stupid with them, they shouldn’t be able to use them, you know?,” said Karmen.

City transportation department officials will gather scooter companies outside city hall for a public demonstration starting at 4:30 p.m. Thursday. And then at 6:30 p.m., a town hall meeting to see what people want regulated, and how.