By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
The City of Great Bend will make an effort to continue to educate citizens on the proper use of the newly available electronic scooters.
Bird Rides partnered with the city and a local fleet manager to bring 50 scooters for the public to enjoy where riders pay to use the devices per minute through a mobile phone application.
The scooters were scattered about the community March 26 and at Monday's Great Bend City Council meeting, councilmember Jolene Biggs mentioned she received a couple of calls on concerns of the scooters being on sidewalks and the walking path at Veterans Memorial Park.
Great Bend Police
Chief Steve Haulmark says he would rather see the scooters on the sidewalks than the streets for safety reasons.
"I think it is just a matter of time before we have an accident on the streets," said Haulmark. "It is Bird's policy to not have anyone under the age of 18, but typically it seems like it's a bunch of younger people riding them. I personally think it is safer for them riding on the sidewalks as opposed to riding in the street."
The electric scooters have a maximum speed of 15 mph and Bird Rides states that
you must be at least 18 years old to use the scooters. Signing up through an electronic app, City Administrator
Kendal Francis says there are obvious ways to get around the age requirement as
several individuals under 18 have used the scooters so far.
Francis added that
city ordinances would technically not allow the scooters on sidewalks, USD 428
property, Jack Kilby Square or downtown parking lots.
"If law enforcement sees something, we're not going to be punitive, but it would an opportunity to stop them and educate them," said Francis. "I really think with time, people will learn. That is my hope. We may need to be more proactive on the education part of it."
The city will keep disseminating guidelines from Bird Rides on the proper use
of the scooters, especially via social media.
Early data from Bird Rides shows the scooters have received heavy use through
their first week and a half.