E-scooters could soon fill the streets of downtown Jacksonville

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville City Council approved a one-year pilot program to bring e-scooters to the streets of downtown Jacksonville.

The city of Jacksonville is scooting closer toward its new micro-mobility program.

On Wednesday night, City Council agreed to bring electric scooters in an 18 to 0 vote.

Getting around Downtown Jacksonville in cars can torpedo your nerves.

But City Council is hoping adding e-scooters will help make getting around a little easier.

“I think e-scooters would be an asset. Everyone needs a way to get around,” neighbor Debra Thompson said.

“Who are they affecting, I don’t see how scooters can affect anybody” Lemontrae Brooker said.

“I would love for them to come downtown,” John Garwood said.

It would ease the mind of Garwood, who rides his bike to get around.

“I can get around places where I have to go to,” Garwood said.

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Under this pilot program, the scooters would only be used in the area stretching from the TIAA Bank Field sports complex to Interstate 95.

Electric scooters have become very popular in cities across the country.

They travel up to 15 miles per hour.

Brooker said traffic may be too crazy in the downtown area to add them in the mix.

“I do understand how they actually work in Atlanta and people could get hurt. If it’s something that can help people, that’s fine, but if they do that then they should go down on parking meter prices,” Brooker said.

Companies like Uber’s Jump Scooter, Lime, Bolt and Bird Rides Incorporated, which are operating throughout the state, will be able to apply for permits to begin operations downtown.

The bill is now headed to Mayor Lenny Curry for his signature.

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