DENVER — The fate of recent electric scooter share programs operating in Denver appear to have been settled.
Friday afternoon, the Denver Public Works Department provided notice to LimeBike and Bird that they are in violation of city code.
They ordered the two companies to remove their scooters from the public right of way immediately.
The city said its crews would be removing scooters left unattended in the public right of way to the extent its resources allow.
Meanwhile, the city said members of the public utilizing these companies' scooters should be aware that the scooters are not allowed to operate in the roadway except to cross the street at an intersection, nor are they allowed in bike lanes, on the city’s trail system, or in city parks.
LimeBike launched the rent-by-the-minute dockless electric scooters in Denver last week, and they proved to be very popular, resulting in complaints about uncharged batteries and close calls.
Bird, another e-scooter company from California, launched in Denver Friday. According to 303 Magazine, the company promised to pick-up the scooters every night so they could be charged and placed at strategic points the next day.
But their popularity didn’t go unnoticed by the city, and its response to the dockless scooters just added to the confusion.
A public works spokeswoman said last week that the scooters "should not be on the streets unless they're crossing at an intersection."
Nancy Kuhn of Denver Public Works said the confusion is a result of Lime dropping off its scooters without coordinating with the city.
Limebook nor Bird have offered a response to Friday's statement from the city. Denver7 has reached to the companies, but have not gotten a response.
