City staff has begun to receive a number of requests from Micro-Mobility companies that utilize scooters, bikes or other means of transportation to move into the Winter Park area.  Typically, a company will want to bring in a "fleet" of vehicles, which are placed in areas around town for use by any person utilizing their app.  There are a number of ways to utilize "geofencing" or creating defined areas of town where the units will not operate once they come into said defined area.  Some of the companies use vehicles that can be used on roadways, but most scooter companies only allow their vehicles to operate on sidewalks.  With changes in legislation each year, the ability for these vehicles to become more widespread is taking place.  

Staff recently had a request for the deployment of 40 scooters that would specifically operate in our Central Business District and Park Ave.  These scooters can travel from 5-20 mph and staff has serious concerns about introducing vehicles such as these into our pedestrian environment.  Current legislation states that a municipality cannot restrict micro-mobility more than any restrictions on bicycles.  There is an existing Ordinance that does not allow bikes on sidewalks in the Central Business District, but does not address this issue for any other part of town.  Additionally, there has been a recent request for a multi-passenger "bar" that allows users to pedal around town at a bar table that is steered by a driver, manned by a bartender and powered by customers.  These commercial operations have become popular in college towns and in tourist locations.  Another issue experienced in other areas where these devices are in use are the accumulation of units at the edge of "geofenced" locations.  Current ordinances restrict this type of business, but it shows the increased desire for new types of commercial mobility operations in Winter Park.

The City does not allow any commercial vendors to operate on the city streets other than taxi services or rideshare such as Uber or Lyft.  Any business must have a business license to operate within the city, but the ability to create new ordinances that would address micro-mobility are being preempted more by new state legislation each year.

Staff would ask for guidance from the Commission on how to proceed in taking steps to preserve the safety, walkability, aesthetics and character of our city.