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Boulder hits the brakes on e-scooters, passes 9-month citywide moratorium

Posted at 10:00 PM, May 21, 2019
and last updated 2019-05-22 00:36:52-04

BOULDER, Colo. -- The Boulder City Council passed a 9-month moratorium on e-scooters Tuesday.

"We are not banning e-scooters," Councilman Bob Yates said. "The only thing we are instructing the city manger to do is not issue business licenses."

E-scooters are currently illegal in Boulder despite the abundance e-skateboards seen around town.

Governor Jared Polis is expected to sign new legislation defining e-scooters as vehicles, making them legal on city streets.

"We are concerned about e-scooters coming into the city without regulatory framework," City Attorney Tom Carr said.

City councilmembers voiced concerns about allowing micro mobility devices on sidewalks, bike trails and open space. They also want to use GPS technology to regulate their speed and make sure they are not just dropped anywhere.

"I had the opportunity to be riding the zero bus down Broadway in Denver. The scooters were lying helter skelter all over the sidewalks and that makes it every difficult for someone in a wheelchair to navigate," Councilwoman Mary Young said.

Personal e-scooters are still legal.

Over the next nice months the city will seek public comment, hold demonstrations and do a pilot program.