Pilot e-scooter program in downtown Jacksonville hits some bumps in the road

[WAJAS]

Was there a purpose to these scooters, beside providing late night entertainment for Jax's wayward youth? Did someone imagine young/old professionals would use them to get around town 9-5?  Or was it "lets put them into the marketplace and see what happens?"

Until recently, these scooters were ( baselessly ) praised over being a solution to the last mile problem.

I think now that the scooter companies financials have shown it's anything but niche..... not sure they have a purpose.

Are you saying they aren't a solution to the first/last mile problem? How are they not? I have used them to solve that problem in Miami and San Diego for instance.

[Ken_FSU]

^Are you saying the scooter companies are losing money?

Lime is now not only profitable but cash-flow positive.

They don't even really need VC anymore.

That said, I'd be curious to know how the scooter companies are doing in Jax.

It was a strange decision from the city to partner with four different scooter companies, all with their own scooters, apps, and ecosystems. Not convenient for riders, having to install multiple apps depending on which scooter happens to be available. Not convenient for the businesses, who have to compete with three other competitors in the same radius.

Just based on the usage I see, I have no doubt that one or maybe two scooter companies could do sustainable business in downtown Jax. Not sure any of them can be profitable long-term sharing the area with three other rivals. 

Interesting side effect of the scooters I've noticed is that are riders are starting to actually use the barren fields at the Landing and Ford on Bay as "parks." There are corrals adjacent to both "parks," and I see a lot of people parking and then hanging out, playing football or soccer, reading a book, etc.

Broken record, but was leaving the office and driving down Bay Street around 5:00, and there were probably 30 scooters out and about between the Landing and Intuition. Everyone smiling. Everyone having fun. Riders from all walks of life. Such a stark difference from the desolate, Mad Max-like stretch that's been post-pandemic/pre-scooter.

[thelakelander]

I'm Downtown right now. People of all ages, race, and sex are riding scooters. DT is still sleepy but it would be a ghost town without them.

[Adam White]

You can both be ok with diversity and have a bit of skepticism about the late night scooter crowd at the same time.  Heck, if I were a single black lady walking the streets of downtown Jax at night, I'd be just as cautious and perhaps a bit nervous as anyone else (probably moreso to be honest), because we all know crime stats, we all have spidey senses, and we all know it's probably a lack of parenting and a few other things that lead to throngs of young black men, plenty of them obviously older teens, to be riding around on the scooters late at night on any given weeknight. 

How can you possibly know how you'd look at the world if you were black (or a woman)?

Just because you see some things a particular way doesn't mean that you understand how other people see things. I hate to say this - it's a bit trite - but you really need to check your privilege.

Edit: and reading more of your comments, you seem to feel you can tell the background, education, etc of any black kid you see on a scooter. How do you know which of these kids is in college? How do you know what their home life is like? Have you stopped to consider that maybe you don't know as much as you think you do?

[MusicMan]

Can someone link a map that shows the range of the scooters as an overlay of the CBD?  Can you take one to the stadium/Daily's Place?
I don't think many people who blog here actually live downtown (many do WORK downtown). I certainly think the scooters provide a great opportunity for the people who live downtown to see events downtown without having to drive.   Like the stadium, Florida Theater, Symphony Hall/TUPAC, ...... Would be great to hop on a scooter at the Berkman, ride down to Symphony Hall, then scoot back to Berkman (or your favorite watering hole) after the concert/show......

[fieldafm]

Can someone link a map that shows the range of the scooters as an overlay of the CBD?  Can you take one to the stadium/Daily's Place?
I don't think many people who blog here actually live downtown (many do WORK downtown). I certainly think the scooters provide a great opportunity for the people who live downtown to see events downtown without having to drive.   Like the stadium, Florida Theater, Symphony Hall/TUPAC, ...... Would be great to hop on a scooter at the Berkman, ride down to Symphony Hall, then scoot back to Berkman (or your favorite watering hole) after the concert/show......

If you've ridden the scooters, the app(s) show the boundary.

[thelakelander]

It's got some weird quirks. I took Spin yesterday and it cut off on Coastline Drive, right in front of Hyatt. Couldn't get it going again until getting back to Newnan Street.

[Tacachale]

It's got some weird quirks. I took Spin yesterday and it cut off on Coastline Drive, right in front of Hyatt. Couldn't get it going again until getting back to Newnan Street.

Somebody posted that same issue in our Facebook group. Looks like they've got some kinks to hammer out.

[Alex Sifakis]

I have found the Helbiz scooters to be the best. I have had a couple issues with Spin.

The scooters are an amazing thing for downtown activation and development.  I have taken groups of Jacksonville leaders around downtown on the scooters (including city council people, past mayors, out of town developers, restaurateurs) and they have all 1) been blown away at the amount happening/about to happen downtown, and 2) loved scooters and the ability to get around so easily.

[fieldafm]

It's got some weird quirks. I took Spin yesterday and it cut off on Coastline Drive, right in front of Hyatt. Couldn't get it going again until getting back to Newnan Street.

There are some zones where the scooters are not able to work... specifically areas where the building owner has requested to have scooter-free sidewalks. 

[jaxlongtimer]

From the map posted, looks like it doesn't work in Prime Osborne's parking lot.  If you attend an event there, why wouldn't that be activated?

[fieldafm]

From the map posted, looks like it doesn't work in Prime Osborne's parking lot.  If you attend an event there, why wouldn't that be activated?

It works where there is a docking station in front of the Prime Osborne and adjacent to the Jacksonville Regional Transportation Authority. Given that the Prime Osborne parking lot is gated and locked, I don't think having scooters behind a locked gate does much for system-wide availability issues.

[jaxlongtimer]

From the map posted, looks like it doesn't work in Prime Osborne's parking lot.  If you attend an event there, why wouldn't that be activated?

It works where there is a docking station in front of the Prime Osborne and adjacent to the Jacksonville Regional Transportation Authority. Given that the Prime Osborne parking lot is gated and locked, I don't think having scooters behind a locked gate does much for system-wide availability issues.

I am figuring its not locked and gated during events.... and couldn't tell from the map that there was a docking station on the front side.  No need for the snide editorializing of an innocent question.

[fieldafm]

From the map posted, looks like it doesn't work in Prime Osborne's parking lot.  If you attend an event there, why wouldn't that be activated?

It works where there is a docking station in front of the Prime Osborne and adjacent to the Jacksonville Regional Transportation Authority. Given that the Prime Osborne parking lot is gated and locked, I don't think having scooters behind a locked gate does much for system-wide availability issues.

I am figuring its not locked and gated during events.... and couldn't tell from the map that there was a docking station on the front side.  No need for the snide editorializing of an innocent question.

Its unfortunate that you feel that my factual answer to your question was snide.

[Lunican]

It's got some weird quirks. I took Spin yesterday and it cut off on Coastline Drive, right in front of Hyatt. Couldn't get it going again until getting back to Newnan Street.

If that map is an accurate GPS boundary provided to the scooter companies, they should modify it slightly.

The boundary for the riverwalk should be moved into the river a bit so if you aren't riding right on the edge the entire way. Same with Bay Street. Any fluctuation in GPS location will turn the scooter off.

Did they exclude the riverwalk in front of the Hyatt on purpose?