HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 29-24RECORD OF RESOLUTIONS
BARRETT BROTHERS - DAYTON, OHIO Form 6301
Resolution No.__29-24 Passed ;
TO EXTEND THE MICRO-MOBILITY PROGRAM AND TO PERMIT THE
OPERATION OF LOW-SPEED MICRO-MOBILITY DEVICES ON LOW-SPEED
STREETS, SIDEWALKS AND SHARED USE PATHS FOR AN ADDITIONAL
12-MONTH PERIOD
WHEREAS, Council passed Resolution 18-22 on April 11, 2022 authorizing the City
Manager to proceed with the Micro-mobility Demonstration Pilot and permitting the
operation of low-speed micro-mobility devices on streets, sidewalks, and shared
use paths for a duration of twelve months which expired on May 31, 2023; and
WHEREAS, Council passed Resolution 42-23 on May 22, 2023 authorizing the
City Manager to extend the duration of the Micro-mobility Demonstration Pilot
and permit the operation of low-speed micro-mobility devices on streets with a
speed limit of twenty-five miles per hour or lower, sidewalks and shared-use
paths for an additional twelve months which expired on May 31, 2024; and
WHEREAS, the Micro-mobility project supports the approved goals and focus
areas of the Strategic Framework Plan and the Economic Development Strategic;
and
WHEREAS, the Micro-mobility Program supports the preliminary goals and focus
areas tied to the Community Health Needs Assessment, Envision Dublin and the
Metro Center Revitalization; and
WHEREAS, the Micro-mobility Demonstration Pilot is considered a success based
on the ridership data and connections to Dublin destinations, housing and
workplaces; and
WHEREAS, in order to increase mobility options and fill the gap of first and last
mile connections, it is beneficial to extend the duration of the program.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Dublin, State
of Ohio, of its elected members concurring, that:
Section 1. City Council hereby authorizes the City Manager to extend the duration of the
Micro-mobility Program and permit the operation of low-speed micro-mobility devices on
streets with a speed limit of twenty-five miles per hour or lower, sidewalks and shared use
paths for an additional twelve months. The approval of changes thereto by those officials,
and their character as not being substantially adverse to the City, shall be evidenced
conclusively by their execution thereof.
Section 2. The City Manager, the Clerk of Council, the Director of Law, the Director of
Finance, or other appropriate officers of the City are hereby authorized to prepare and sign
all agreements and instruments and to take any other actions as may be appropriate to
implement this Resolution.
Section 3. This Resolution shall 0 effect on June 1, 2024.
Passed this 52 _od7 day of al Ape , 2024. a
Mayor — Presiding Officer
CL. ud, a ful
Cler oft Coup
To: Members of Dublin City Council
From: Megan D. O’Callaghan, P.E., City Manager
Date: May 28, 2024
Initiated By: Jean-Ellen Willis, PE, Director of Transportation and Mobility
Jeremiah Gracia, CEcD, Director of Economic Development
J.M. Rayburn, AICP, Planner II
Luke Fleming, Economic Development Administrator
Re: Resolution 29-24 - Micro-mobility Demonstration Project – Pilot Conclusion and
Next Steps
Summary
Resolution 29-24 will extend the micro-mobility project for an additional twelve month period,
during which time Staff will draft Code modifications for Council’s consideration and explore a
permitting model to manage micro-mobility operations.
Background
In furtherance of the approved goals and focus areas of the Strategic Framework Plan and the
Economic Development Strategic Plan, and the preliminary goals and focus areas tied to the
Community Health Needs Assessment, Envision Dublin and the Metro Center Revitalization, the
City of Dublin has initiated a demonstration pilot project to test the viability of micro-mobility in
Dublin. The Micro-mobility Program provides a unique option connecting people to destinations,
housing and workplaces. At the May 22, 2023 meeting, City Council adopted Resolution 42-23
authorizing the Micro-mobility Demonstration Pilot proceed to Phase 2 and extending the project
for an additional twelve month period.
Micro-mobility Program Overview
Phase 1 - Launch
In advancement of the Strategic Framework goals, Council
approved a Micro-mobility Demonstration Pilot Project via
Resolution 18-22 on April 11, 2022. A fleet of
approximately 35 Bird scooters launched in Dublin on May
1, 2022. At the October 24, 2022 meeting, Council was
supportive of staff incorporating additional operational
parameters into the program. These details are
documented as an attachment to this memo.
Phase 2 - Citywide Expansion
Phase 2 of the Micro- mobility Demonstration Pilot called
for citywide expansion of the pilot boundaries, as shown in
Figure 1. The expansion of the pilot boundaries connected
all of Dublin’s destinations, places and events via micro-
mobility options. The local Bird scooter fleet was capped
at 125 scooters, an increase from a cap of 35 in Phase 1.
Office of the City Manager
5555 Perimeter Drive • Dublin, OH 43017-1090
Phone: 614.410.4400 • Fax: 614.410.4490 Memo
Figure 1: Map of pilot phases
Memo re. Resolution 29-24 - Micro-mobility Demonstration Project – Pilot Conclusion and Next Steps
May 28, 2024
Page 2 of 5
Phase 2 - Operational Changes
At the May 22, 2023 meeting, Council was supportive of staff incorporating additional operational
parameters into Phase 2 of the program. These included:
1. Restricting rentable scooters from riding in the bike lanes of roadways that have a speed
limit higher than 25 miles per hour.
2. Installation of Glow Pavers occurred in March 2024 in coordination with the Dublin
Chamber of Commerce. The installation in the John Wright parking lot behind the Dublin
Chamber of Commerce to indicate a designated parking area for rentable scooters.
Pilot Project Performance
Low-speed micro-mobility scooters expand mobility options for the Dublin community and ridership
data shows that most riders use micro-mobility devices for destinations ranging from a mile to two
miles away—the first and last mile of a trip is often the most challenging for those who travel
without a personal car. The most recent ridership data available from Bird is shown below. The
first four months of the year saw 905 unique riders take 1,532 rides for a total of 3,121 miles
traveled. Demand for riding micro-mobility devices continues to grow in Dublin—even during the
cold weather months. Bird scooters skipped hibernation during the 2023- 2024 winter season for
the first time due to higher ridership compared to previous years when operations typically paused
from late November through April. Year over year data shows Bird scooters experienced 31
percent more rides in April 2024 compared to April 2023 and riders increased the miles traveled on
Bird scooters by 59 percent during the same time period. Month over month data illustrates
increases in total rides and miles traveled, up 105 percent and 162 percent, respectively.
4,212
7,062
17,432
2.45
2,921
7,554
14,862
2.10
905
1,532
3,121
0.44
- 2,000 4,000 6,000 8,000 10,000 12,000 14,000 16,000 18,000 20,000
Number of Riders
Total Rides
Total Miles
Metric Tonnes of CO2 Saved
AmountKey Performance IndicatorFigure 2: Historic Micro-mobility Ridership Data (Bird)
2024 (YTD)2023
Memo re. Resolution 29-24 - Micro-mobility Demonstration Project – Pilot Conclusion and Next Steps
May 28, 2024
Page 3 of 5
Requiring mandatory compliance for scooter parking at bike racks and other designated parking
areas as well as restricting Bird scooters from riding in the travel lanes of roadways that have a
speed limit higher than 25 miles per hour have shown to be effective operational improvements to
the micro-mobility program. Over the past twelve months, Dublin Police received three complaints
involving scooters. These complaints involved young people riding scooters in a reckless manner.
On one occasion, a Dublin Police Officer advised the scooter riders of the rules of the road when
riding micro-mobility devices. None of these complaints were confirmed to be Bird scooters and are
believed to be privately-owned micro-mobility devices. Further, Staff has not received other
complaints relating to scooters or parking compliance.
While the Bird operating zone is citywide, data from Bird demonstrates that rider activity is
generally bounded by Brand Road to the north, Rings Road to the south, Sawmill Road to the east
and Hyland Croy and Cosgray Roads to the west, supporting a citywide operating zone. As in
previous years, the highest concentrations of ridership remain in Bridge Park, Historic Dublin,
Tuller Flats, Dublin Plaza and along the Sawmill Road corridor. The use of micro-mobility devices
offers an attractive alternative to driving and parking in areas of Dublin that have a mix of land
uses and a higher density of destinations, housing and workplaces.
Staff considers the Micro-mobility Demonstration Pilot a success based on the ridership data and
connections to Dublin destinations, housing and workplaces. While Bridge Park, Historic Dublin and
Tuller Flats have the highest concentration of rides, Figure 3 also shows that Coffman Park, Avery
Park, Ballantrae, Westbury, Shannon Glen also have notable ridership.
Figure 3: Coverage map of where Bird scooters traveled in 2023
Additionally, as requested by Council, staff met with the Muirfield Association in July through
August of 2023. The Muirfield Association agreed to allow three designated parking locations that
have bike racks for micro-mobility parking. These include:
1. Glick Road Recreation Facility (6716 Glick Road)
2. Holbrook Recreation Facility (8372 Muirfield Drive)
Memo re. Resolution 29-24 - Micro-mobility Demonstration Project – Pilot Conclusion and Next Steps
May 28, 2024
Page 4 of 5
3. The Country Club at Muirfield Village (8715 Muirfield Drive)
Economic Development
As noted in the 2023 Economic Development Strategic Plan, micro-mobility options are key to the
prosperity of Economic Development opportunities in the community. It is vital to increase
transportation equity and access for both our day and nighttime residents. Staff is partnering with
the City of Columbus on a regional scooter and bikeshare Request for Proposals that will take into
consideration increasing equity and access to micro-mobility options. Providing connections
through micro-mobility is important to provide access to jobs and housing; allowing all residents
and the workforce connections to a variety of destinations.
Micro-mobility availability also helps with business retention and expansion efforts for the City of
Dublin’s Economic Development initiatives. The implementation of scooter stations near our
businesses assures the City of Dublin’s support for our workforce and local business retention
efforts by creating dependable transportation alternatives. Transportation and Mobility staff has
received requests from businesses to place scooters near and around their business to support
their employees travel to/from work and other times throughout the workday. Additionally, options
such as scooters promote a healthy community by allowing our residents and workforce to take
part in reducing adverse environmental impacts, making Dublin an even more attractive place for
businesses to call home. Economic Development’s focus is to lead local business retention,
expansion, and attraction efforts and the micro-mobility options are a great supplement to
business attraction discussions and increase our overall competitiveness.
Proposed Micro-mobility Operating Permit
A nationwide best practice is to incorporate an annual micro-mobility operator permit for operators
wishing to place their devices in the public right-of-way. The closest example of this is the City of
Columbus, which charges an annual permit fee of $500 per operator to freely use the public right-
of-way, plus $90 per scooter to operate. This generates about $300,000 in revenue annually for
the City of Columbus. While the City of Columbus scooter performance outpaces that of Dublin, the
average mileage per trip is consistent, suggesting that the rider’s purpose in Columbus is to
complete first and last mile connections just as it is in Dublin. As Dublin continues to expand, it is
expected that the demand for access to micro-mobility options will increase to complete trips,
similar to the Columbus model. As a result, staff believes it is reasonable to investigate the concept
of an annual micro-mobility operating fee through a future Comprehensive Cost Study to
determine if fees are appropriate for Dublin, and if yes, what an appropriate fee should be.
Many cities use the revenue generated from micro-mobility operating permits towards supportive
infrastructure such as bike racks. Staff will explore this as one potential option to fund
infrastructure that supports micro-mobility and bikes, if a permitting fee is recommended.
New Parking Compliance Measures
Currently Bird scooter rides can end at bike racks or designated parking areas. For this next
iteration of the micro-mobility program, Staff is focused on requiring all trips to end at a bike rack
for ease of messaging and user experience.
Memo re. Resolution 29-24 - Micro-mobility Demonstration Project – Pilot Conclusion and Next Steps
May 28, 2024
Page 5 of 5
Since October 2021,
Washington, D.C. has required
micro-mobility devices to lock
to city infrastructure when
parked through the District.
This policy serves to keep
sidewalks and public spaces
open and free from obstruction
for all to enjoy. Staff
recommends working with the
micro-mobility operator to
explore and possibly implement
adopting a similar policy
requiring Dublin-permitted low-
speed micro-mobility devices to
lock to City infrastructure when
parked throughout Dublin. Appropriate infrastructure includes bike racks as well as in-street bicycle
and scooter corrals. Dublin-permitted low-speed micro-mobility devices would not be allowed to
lock to sign posts, bus shelters, private fences or gates, trees or trash receptacles.
Post-pilot Survey
In order to gather public feedback from the Micro-mobility Demonstration Pilot Project, Staff
published an online survey that was shared via Tell Dublin, Dublin News Now, social media and the
Economic Development newsletter. Staff will provide the most recent survey feedback as part of
the presentation to Council during the June 3, 2024 meeting of City Council.
Conclusions
While there have been operational improvements needed during the course of the Micro-mobility
Program Pilot Phases, based on increased ridership and coverage area, environmental benefits,
and associated economic development benefits, staff views the program to be an overall success.
In order to continue the Program, an extension to allow low-speed micro-mobility devices, such as
Bird e-scooters, on streets, sidewalks and shared use paths is necessary once again. During this
time, Staff will draft modifications to existing Code to permanently permit the operation of low-
speed micro-mobility devices in Dublin.
Recommendation
Staff proposes the following next steps:
1. Adopt Resolution 29-24 extending the micro-mobility project for an additional twelve month
period.
2. Direct Staff to draft code modifications and refer to the Public Services Committee.
3. Direct Staff to explore and refine a potential permitting model to manage micro-mobility
operations and refer to Public Services Committee.
Figure 4: Example of a lock on a Bird scooter
To: Members of Dublin City Council
From: Megan D. O’Callaghan, P.E., City Manager
Date: May 16, 2023
Initiated By: Jean-Ellen Willis, PE, Director of Transportation and Mobility
J.M. Rayburn, AICP, Planner II
Re: Resolution 42-23 - Micro-mobility Demonstration Pilot Project - Phase 2 and
Time Extension
Summary
Resolution XX-23 will allow to proceed with Phase 2 of the Micro-mobility Demonstration Pilot.
Phase 2 proposes to expand the pilot boundaries to the City’s municipal boundaries, incorporates
new operational parameters and extends the pilot project another twelve months.
Background
At the October 24, 2022 City Council meeting, staff provided an update on the Micro-mobility
Demonstration Pilot. Meeting materials are attached for reference. Staff documented the progress
of the pilot and Council supported changes to the pilot based on community survey results and
feedback documented by Dublin Police.
Staff Analysis
2022 Performance Overview
On July 25, 2022 Council approved the Dublin Strategic Framework which established a goal of
making Dublin the most sustainable, connected and resilient global city of choice. In advancement
of these visionary goals, Council approved a Micro-mobility Demonstration Pilot Project. A fleet of
approximately 35 Bird scooters launched in Dublin on May 1, 2022. Between May 1st and
December 31st, 2022 a total of 4,212 unique riders completed 7,064 rides, travelling a total of
17,432 miles. Based on Bird’s calculations, this represents nearly 2.5 metric tonnes of CO2
emissions saved.
In addition to the environmental sustainability benefit, the pilot also helped reduce vehicular traffic
and driving time for the community. According to a 2021 report by the North American Bikeshare
and Scootershare Association (NABSA), an estimated 37% of shared micro-mobility trips replaced a
car. As micro-mobility ridership grows, a proportionate reduction of CO2 emissions and traffic
congestion is anticipated.
Office of the City Manager
5555 Perimeter Drive • Dublin, OH 43017-1090
Phone: 614.410.4400 • Fax: 614.410.4490 Memo
Figure 1: 2022 Metrics for Bird scooters in Dublin
Memo re. Resolution XX-23 - Micro-mobility Demonstration Pilot Program – Phase 2
May 16, 2023
Page 2 of 5
Use of Bird scooters peaked in the summer months of 2022. As Figure 2 shows, the decrease in
the number of monthly rides coincides with college students returning to school and the beginning
of fall weather. Bird transitioned to winter operations in November due to a decrease in ridership
associated with the colder weather. During this hibernation period, all Bird scooters were stored
indoors. Bird scooter operations resumed within the Phase 1 boundaries on March 27, 2023. At the
time of the writing, a total of 470 unique riders completed 926 rides, travelling a total of 1,818
miles since March 27, 2023.
Operational Changes During Hibernation
At the October 24, 2022 meeting, Council was supportive of staff incorporating additional
operational parameters into the program. These include:
1. Restricting Bird scooters from riding in the travel lanes of roadways that have a speed limit
higher than 25 miles per hour.
2. Restricting Bird scooters from riding on W. Bridge Street between Darby Street/Mill Lane
and Blacksmith Lane and on High Street between Rock Cress Parkway and John Wright
Lane.
3. Requiring mandatory compliance for scooter parking at bike racks and other designated
parking areas in the operating zone.
4. Creating a special identification for scooter parking.
5. Continuing public education campaign.
6. Extending the Micro-mobility Demonstration Pilot another twelve months.
Staff implemented these changes during the hibernation period in cooperation with the Dublin
Police Department. The operating updates are shown in Figures 3 and 4 on the next page.
Figure 2: Number of Rides of Bird Scooters in Dublin (2022)
Memo re. Resolution XX-23 - Micro-mobility Demonstration Pilot Program – Phase 2
May 16, 2023
Page 3 of 5
Figure 3 shows an example of the No Ride Zone in the travel lanes of roadways with a posted
speed limit higher than 25 miles per hour. The example shown centers on the intersection of
Muirfield Drive and Sells Mill Drive/Mojave Street. The No Ride Zone is shaded in gray and is
designed to allow scooters to cross restricted roadways at intersections. The No Ride Zone does
not extend to the curbs of Muirfield Drive because GPS-enabled devices are typically accurate to
within a 16-foot radius under open sky. Their accuracy worsens near buildings, bridges and trees.
Therefore, a 20-foot buffer from all sidewalks and shared use paths is in place to uphold the
roadway restriction while minimizing any service disruptions to scooter riders using an adjacent
sidewalk or shared use path.
Figure 4 is a screenshot of the rider restrictions in the Bird app. In this example, Longshore Street,
Riverside Drive and all parking garages are displayed as grey polygons, which indicate No Ride
Zones. An overlay called a Designated Parking Required Zone was added to the Phase 1 operating
zone and is shown shaded in red. To end a scooter ride, the user must move the Bird scooter to a
designated parking spot labeled with a white “P” in a black-colored icon.
Since Bird resumed scooter operations on March 27, 2023, staff has received zero complaints from
the Dublin Police or the GoDublin app regarding scooter operations and parking. Figure 5 on the
next page document examples of scooter parking compliance from a recent audit on May 9, 2023.
The findings from the audit indicate a successful implementation of mandatory parking changes
enacted during the winter months.
Figure 3: No Ride Zone on roads with a
speed limit higher than 25 miles per hour
Figure 4: No Ride Zones and Mandatory
Parking Locations
Map Legend
No Ride Zone
Designated
Parking
Required Zone
Designated
Parking Spot P
Memo re. Resolution XX-23 - Micro-mobility Demonstration Pilot Program – Phase 2
May 16, 2023
Page 4 of 5
Compliant scooter parking on N.
Riverview Street
Compliant scooter parking at N.
High Street & Rock Cress Pkwy
Compliant scooter parking at
Banker Dr. & Longshore Street
Potential Special Identification for e-Scooter Parking Locations
Staff partnered with Bird on mandatory compliance for scooter parking at
bike racks and other designated parking areas, as well as a special
identification for scooter parking. Figure 6 shows the proposed pavement
marking design to identify scooter parking. In the event that consistent
non-compliance in scooter parking is observed, staff will plan to place
these at various locations as needed to identify the appropriate.
A map of the of public bike racks across the City is included as an
attachment for your reference to show where scooter parking will be
allowed.
An e-bike is part of the design in anticipation of CoGo Bike Share’s expansion
into Dublin this summer. The local CoGo fleet will be comprised of both traditional
bikes and peddle-assist e-bikes. A unique feature of the CoGo e-bikes is that they have a built-in
bike lock giving the rider an option between ending a ride at a CoGo docking station or at a public
bike rack.
Public Education Campaign
As part of the continuing public education campaign discussed at the October 24, 2022 meeting,
staff refined information on the pilot and Bird scooters on the City’s website
(https://dublinohiousa.gov/mobility/) and hosted four public safety workshops focused on scooter
safety and etiquette. Workshops occurred in February and March of 2023 and were promoted
through the Dublin News Now newsletter and Dublin Mobility Newsletter. A total of seven residents
attended. Staff believes the low turnout at these events was due to time of year. Staff will hold
three safety workshops during the months of May and June as these months have the highest
scooter use. Rather than holding these indoors, staff will host guided scooter rides that incorporate
scooter safety through Bridge Park and Historic Dublin given the various rider restrictions in place.
This will allow staff to reach the public when the topic is top-of-mind and riders can learn first-
hand how to scoot safely. Additional guided scooter rides will be scheduled, as needed. Scooter
safety will be the focus at the Mobility Concierge at Riverside Crossing Park on June 23, 2023, with
educational materials available during all concierge events.
Staff plans to publish a post-pilot survey online to gather feedback regarding the Micro-mobility
Demonstration Pilot and identify preferences for conditions of scooter use and future operations.
Figure 6: Potential pavement
marking for scooter parking
Figure 5: Scooter Parking Audit
Memo re. Resolution XX-23 - Micro-mobility Demonstration Pilot Program – Phase 2
May 16, 2023
Page 5 of 5
Alignment with Community Priorities and Council Goals
The most recent Community Attitudes Survey revealed that 90 percent of respondents agreed that
increasing the City’s mobility options for all residents should be a medium to high priority.
Furthermore, the Strategic Framework adopted in 2022 establishes the goal of being the most
connected community and micro-mobility options are a component.
Citywide Expansion
In support of the Strategic Framework, Phase 2 of
the Micro- mobility Demonstration Pilot calls for
citywide expansion of the pilot boundaries, as
shown in Figure 7. An expansion of the pilot
boundaries will connect all of Dublin’s destinations,
places and events via micro-mobility options.
Given that the current pilot boundary is small in
comparison to other markets, Bird is supportive of
citywide expansion. Dublin also has a growing pool
of destinations to reach via scooter.
All the same rules will apply to the Phase 2
expansion as are currently in place for the Phase 1
pilot boundary.
Should the project expand citywide, the company
plans to increase the active fleet from 35 scooters
to 125 scooters, which is consistent with the information presented to the Public Services
Committee at the February 16, 2022 meeting. The Dublin-based Bird fleet manager has provided
excellent service to date, demonstrating fast response times and communicating directly with staff.
The same level of service is anticipated with a citywide expansion.
Recommendation
Given the operational improvements, success with mandatory parking locations, and connections
to additional destinations, places and events staff proposes the following next steps:
1. Adopt Resolution 42-23 authorizing the Micro-mobility Demonstration Pilot proceed to
Phase 2 and extending the project for an additional twelve month period.
Figure 9: Anticipated Phase 2 Boundary Scooter Metrics
Figure 7: Map of pilot phases
Dublin City Council
May 22, 2023 Page 4 of 14
There were no public comments.
Vote on the Resolution: Ms. Kramb, yes; Ms. Amorose Groomes, yes; Mayor Fox, yes;
Mr. Reiner, yes; Vice Mayor De Rosa, yes; Mr. Keeler, yes; Ms. Alutto, yes.
Resolution 42-23 To Extend the Micro-Mobility Demonstration Pilot and to Permit the
Operation of Low-Speed Micro-Mobility Devices on Low-Speed Streets,
Bike Lanes, Sidewalks, and Shared-Use Paths for an Additional 12-Month
Period
Ms. Alutto introduced the Resolution.
Mr. Rayburn stated that a fleet of approximately 35 Bird scooters launched in Dublin
on May 1, 2022. Between May 1st and December 31st, 2022 a total of 4,212 unique
riders completed 7,064 rides, travelling a total of 17,432 miles. Use of Bird scooters
peaked in the summer months of 2022. The decrease in the number of monthly rides
coincides with college students returning to school and the beginning of fall weather.
Bird transitioned to winter operations in November due to a decrease in ridership
associated with the colder weather. During this hibernation period, all Bird scooters
were stored indoors. Bird scooter operations resumed within the Phase 1 boundaries
on March 27, 2023.
At the October 24, 2022 meeting, Council was supportive of staff incorporating
additional operational parameters into the program. These include:
1. Restricting Bird scooters from riding in the travel lanes of roadways that have a
speed limit higher than 25 miles per hour.
2. Restricting Bird scooters from riding on W. Bridge Street between Darby
Street/Mill Lane and Blacksmith Lane and on High Street between Rock Cress
Parkway and John Wright Lane.
3. Requiring mandatory compliance for scooter parking at bike racks and other
designated parking areas in the operating zone.
4. Creating a special identification for scooter parking.
5. Continuing a public education campaign.
6. Extending the Micro-mobility Demonstration Pilot another twelve months.
Staff implemented these changes during the hibernation period in cooperation with the
Dublin Police Department.
Mr. Rayburn provided illustrations to show some of the changes that have been made
regarding no ride zones and designated parking zones. He noted that a 20-foot buffer
from all sidewalks and shared use paths is in place to uphold the roadway restriction
while minimizing any service disruptions to scooter riders using an adjacent sidewalk or
shared use path. He also highlighted the overlay called a Designated Parking Required
Zone was added to the Phase 1 operating zone. To end a scooter ride, the user must
move the Bird scooter to a designated parking spot labeled with a white “P” in a black-
colored icon. Staff feels these changes were successful, as they have heard no
complaints from riders and spot check compliance. Staff has been pleased with the
compliance they have seen.
Mr. Rayburn shared that staff will hold three safety workshops during the months of
May and June as these months have the highest scooter use. Rather than holding
these indoors, staff will host guided scooter rides that incorporate scooter safety
through Bridge Park and Historic Dublin given the various rider restrictions in place.
This will allow staff to reach the public when the topic is top-of-mind and riders can
learn first-hand how to scoot safely. Additional guided scooter rides will be scheduled,
as needed.
Mr. Rayburn stated that as expansion of the pilot is considered, it is important to note
that the most recent Community Attitudes Survey revealed that 90 percent of
Dublin City Council
May 22, 2023 Page 5 of 14
respondents agreed that increasing the City’s mobility options for all residents should
be a medium to high priority. Furthermore, the Strategic Framework adopted in 2022
establishes the goal of being the most connected community and micro-mobility
options are a component. An expansion of the pilot boundaries will connect all of
Dublin’s destinations, places and events via micro-mobility options. Given that the
current pilot boundary is small in comparison to other markets, Bird is supportive of
citywide expansion. Dublin also has a growing pool of destinations to reach via scooter.
Staff recommended approval. Mr. Rayburn introduced Caitlyn Goodspeed, from Bird,
who was joining virtually.
There were no public comments.
Vice Mayor De Rosa asked how many more scooters the City would have with the
expansion. Mr. Rayburn stated that Phase 1 of the pilot allowed for 50 active scooters,
but it never rose to that demand. With the expansion, there would be 125 active
scooters allowed, but that would be determined by ridership.
Ms. Alutto asked if there are plans to get to the northern part of the City. Mr. Rayburn
stated that staff would like the opportunity to work with the Muirfield Association or
other partners to get bike racks installed if needed, and have those conversations to
make sure that it is appropriate and safe.
Ms. Amorose Groomes asked if riders could still ride in that portion of the City even
without the parking options. Mr. Rayburn answered affirmatively; however, it is still
prohibited to ride on roads with a speed limit above 25 miles per hour. Ms. Amorose
Groomes commented on the great bike lanes on the road on Muirfield Drive north of
Brand Road. She questioned whether scooters would be allowed to operate in these
dedicated lanes. Mr. Rayburn stated that it would be dependent upon the buffer and if
it was safe enough.
Ms. Kramb stated that it was her understanding that if riders do not park the scooter in
one of the designated spots, then they continue to be charged. She added that it
would be important to add parking in the northern area to make sure that people can
return them to the designated areas when their ride is complete. Finally, she asked if
staff was working to get a larger number of scooters for City events. She could see
people wanting to use scooters to get from the hotel or parking lot to the Irish Festival.
Mr. Rayburn responded affirmatively and stated that he and Ms. Goodspeed have
discussed how that could work (pick up and drop off locations, numbers of scooters).
Mayor Fox asked if staff would be willing to provide more information and maybe even
a demonstration if a neighborhood (HOA) is interested in learning more. Mr. Rayburn
stated that staff is happy to provide additional information.
In response to Vice Mayor De Rosa’s question regarding billing of scooters that are not
returned to the appropriate locations, Ms. Goodspeed stated that if a rider attempts to
end their ride outside of a designated area, then they will receive a notification telling
them that they are not in the correct area and to return the scooter to the specified
location.
Vice Mayor De Rosa asked if the rider would continue to be charged if they did not
return the scooter to the correct spot. Ms. Goodspeed stated that she would look into
that, but she does know that the rider would receive notifications to try to guide them
to the correct parking area to end their ride. She added that it is rare that someone
gets charged for a long period of time because most people find where to park the
scooter and end the ride.
Vote on the Resolution: Vice Mayor De Rosa, yes; Mr. Keeler, yes; Mayor Fox, yes;
Ms. Kramb, yes; Ms. Alutto, yes; Mr. Reiner; yes; Ms. Amorose Groomes, yes.
To: Members of Dublin City Council
From: Megan D. O’Callaghan, City Manager
Date: October 18, 2022
Initiated By: Jean-Ellen Willis, PE, Director of Transportation and Mobility
J.M. Rayburn, Planner II
Re: Micro-mobility Demonstration Pilot Project Update
Background
The recommendations of the Frantz Road Alternative Transportation Lane Study, combined with
the interest of Bird to operate in Dublin, led to the Micro-mobility Demonstration Pilot presented at
the November 2021 meeting of the Public Services Committee. Staff received favorable feedback
from the Committee and followed up in February 2022 with information regarding the pilot
boundaries, timeline, Bird e-scooters phasing, speed restrictions, parking management, and
sidewalk congestion mitigation.
At the April 12, 2022 City Council meeting, staff presented the micro-mobility demonstration pilot
proposal, which was consistent with the discussions and feedback from the Public Services
Committee. Staff requested Council temporarily permit the operation of low-speed micro-mobility
devices, such as Bird e-scooters. Dublin City Council voted unanimously to proceed with the pilot
and directed staff to report back before expanding the pilot citywide.
Accordingly, staff is providing the following information to document the progress of the pilot.
Topics covered include a Phase 1 pilot overview and Bird scooter operations. An online survey was
published in August per the request of City Council from the April 12, 2022 meeting. Staff is
recommending changes to the pilot based on survey results and complaints documented by Dublin
Police.
Phase 1 Demonstration Pilot Overview
Phase 1 of the Micro-mobility Demonstration Pilot
began on May 1, 2022 in recognition of National Bike
Month. The pilot launched a fleet of 30 scooters within
the defined Phase 1 boundaries, as shown in Figure 1
on the right. During this phase, staff worked with Bird
to monitor, audit and test the operations of Bird
scooters. Based on feedback from Dublin Police and
staff test rides, operational changes were made to
enhance public safety and mitigate inappropriate use
of Bird scooters. Dublin staff coordinated with Bird on
the communications plan to encourage safety for both
pedestrians and users of micro-mobility devices.
In order to understand better ridership characteristics
and public opinion of the pilot, Bird provided access to
a data dashboard on Tableau and staff conducted an
Office of the City Manager
5555 Perimeter Drive • Dublin, OH 43017-1090
Phone: 614.410.4400 • Fax: 614.410.4490 Memo
Figure 1: Pilot Boundaries for Phase 1 (purple)
and proposed CoGo Stations (green)
Memo re. Micro-mobility Demonstration Pilot Update
October 18, 2022
Page 2 of 8
online public survey.
Figure 2: Bird Ridership Data Dashboard
Bird Scooter Operations
Bird scooter test rides
Scooter test rides were held for both staff and through community outreach efforts. Following the
launch of Bird scooters, staff began test rides as a quality control measure. Dublin staff members
participated in test rides, which included setting up an account, adding a payment option, starting
a ride, testing slow zones and no ride zones, finishing a ride and completing a post-ride survey.
Feedback from the post-ride survey indicated a learning curve when riding an electric scooter and
underscored the importance of education for the community. The post-ride feedback also helped
to refine slow zones and no ride zones, which is explained in detail on page 4.
Staff pursued opportunities to engage with residents and encourage test rides on micro-mobility
devices. On May 4, 2022, Dublin Transportation & Mobility staff provided Citizen U attendees with
CoGo e-bikes and Bird e-scooters. These residents had an opportunity to learn more about micro-
mobility, ask questions to staff and then go for a ride in a parking lot. Further, the City of Dublin
hosted a family-friendly Bike Rodeo event in Historic Dublin on May 14, 2022. The event provided
safety education to residents and distributed new helmets to 18 attendees. Bird also participated in
the Bike Rodeo to promote scooter-related education and an opportunity for those 18 years old
and older to ride Bird scooters.
Ridership during the 2022 Memorial Tournament
Scooter rides during the five days of the Memorial Tournament increased five percent, unique
riders increased 15 percent, and distance traveled increased 29 percent, showing the highest
percent increase of rider metrics compared to the five days leading up to the tournament.
Memo re. Micro-mobility Demonstration Pilot Update
October 18, 2022
Page 3 of 8
Table 1: Ridership data for Bird scooters
Key Performance
Indicator
Before Memorial
Tournament
(5/23/2022 -
5/29/2022)
2022 Memorial
Tournament
(5/30/2022 –
6/5/2022)
Since the start
of pilot
(5/1/2022 -
9/15/2022)
Unique Riders 222 riders 256 riders 3,470 riders
Total Rides 414 rides 436 rides 5,853 rides
Distance Traveled on
Bird Scooters 958 miles 1,238 miles 14,624 miles
Independence Day Parade
City staff from Events and Transportation & Mobility Division partnered with Bird for this year’s
Independence Day Parade. Rather than using golf carts, Events staff used Bird scooters at no cost.
According to Events staff, the advantages of using the e-scooters include a smaller vehicle profile
permitting access to congested locations, which improved operations during the event. Events staff
is open to using e-scooters at future events, such as the Dublin Irish Festival, should the pilot
boundaries expand.
Parking compliance and audits
The targeted parking location for micro-mobility devices are at public bike racks and designated
areas within Bridge Park pocket parks. These targeted parking locations are indicated in the Bird
app for rider awareness. Dublin staff has worked with Bird’s local Fleet Manager on parking
compliance of Bird’s scooters when rebalancing the local fleet daily. Audits of scooter parking in
Historic Dublin and Bridge Park were conducted regularly and results were shared with Bird. These
observations show parking compliance have substantially improved since the launch of the pilot in
May.
Figure 3: Example of inappropriate scooter parking Figure 4: Example of acceptable scooter parking
Police experience and operational changes
Dublin Police has received 11 complaints associated with scooter use. Most complaints center on
inappropriate use of the scooters by underage riders. The complaints were shared with Bird, which
worked with Dublin staff to publish in-app messaging and implement operational changes.
Memo re. Micro-mobility Demonstration Pilot Update
October 18, 2022
Page 4 of 8
Table 2: List of complaints associated with scooter use as documented by Dublin Police
Complaint Call Date/Time Location Notes (summarized)
221260005 5/6/2022 @ 12:12am Bridge Park Ave / Riverside Dr Bird scooter in roadway
221390560 5/19/2022 @ 8:56pm Bridge Park Ave / Village Pkwy Multiple people on 1 scooter
221400667 5/20/2022 @ 10:53pm Mooney Parking Garage Underage riders racing down
parking garage ramps
221450745 5/25/2022 @ 9:37pm Bridge Park Ave / Dale Dr Scooters in roadway not
obeying traffic laws
221600532 6/9/2022 @ 8:04pm Frantz Rd / Bradenton Ave Underage riders on scooters
221630538 6/12/2022 @ 11:06pm Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams Scooters in roadway not
obeying traffic laws
221710581 6/20/2022 @11:00pm John Shields Pkwy / Watson St Underage riders on scooters
221960511 7/15/2022 @ 8:02pm 20 S Riverview Street Underage riders on scooters
222240664 8/12/2022 @ 11:32pm 4554 Larimer Street Underage riders going up
parking garage ramps
222270396 8/15/2022 @ 4:28pm 6580 Longshore Street Underage riders on scooters
222450650 9/2/2022 @ 11:38pm Longshore Parking Garage Trying to ride scooters onto
the elevator
As a result of the above list, feedback from Dublin Police and staff
test rides, operational changes have been made to promote safe
riding of micro-mobility devices. In response to complaints of
underage riders on scooters, Bird initiated an in-app education push
on June 16, 2022, notifying users that they must be 18 years of age
or older to ride Bird scooters, as shown in Figure 5. In response to
scooter racing in parking garages, Dublin staff worked with Bird to
create five additional No Ride Zones for each parking garage in
Dublin. Furthermore, when Bird scooters are rebalanced in the
evening, the scooters are proactively placed away from the Dublin
Link Bridge to improve riding and parking behaviors.
The Longshore Street No Ride Zone and Dublin Link Bridge Slow Zone
were refined and amended following the feedback from each staff
test ride. As a result, the Longshore Street No Ride Zone was
expanded in order to improve compliance. Concurrently, the Dublin
Link Bridge Slow Zone was widened to include the plazas at each end
of the bridge in order to also improve compliance.
Staff recommends adopting more operational changes advised by the
Police Department such as restricting Bird Scooters from riding in the
travel lanes of roadways that have a speed limit higher than 25 miles
per hour. Staff also recommends restricting Bird Scooters from riding in the travel lanes of Bridge
Street in the Historic District and on High Street between Rock Cress Parkway and John Wright
Lane.
Figure 5: Example of an
in-app notification to remind
riders of age requirements
Memo re. Micro-mobility Demonstration Pilot Update
October 18, 2022
Page 5 of 8
Public education efforts
As part of the communications plan for the pilot, Dublin staff created a page on the City’s website
dedicated to the Micro-mobility Demonstration Pilot (https://dublinohiousa.gov/micromobility).
Information on the pilot, including maps, graphics and resources, are available to public at any
time. Staff also featured the micro-mobility demonstration pilot on an episode of the City’s podcast
Link Ahead and participated in media interviews with WBNS (10TV), Dublin Life and WOSU.
Staff continued to reach out to the public through educational posts on the City’s social media
accounts and via the quarterly City of Dublin Mobility Newsletter. To complement the digital
outreach efforts, staff included information on the pilot and a link to the online survey at the
weekly Mobility Concierge pop-up series at Riverside Crossing Park.
Data from Bird
Since the start of the pilot, a total of 3,470 unique riders completed 5,853 rides on Bird scooters,
and traveled a total of 14,624 miles with a fleet of 32 scooters. Bird reports that the pilot in Dublin
is performing very well, especially with the Phase 1 pilot boundary representing a small area with
several geofences in place to restrict riders. If scooters were permitted citywide, Bird would
anticipate scooter use increasing for those commuting to work. Bird has observed higher rates of
commuting by scooter in other markets due to high gas prices this summer.
Phase 1 Public Survey
Staff published an online survey for Phase 1 of the Micro-mobility Demonstration Pilot on August
18, 2022 and collected 180 responses. Please refer to Attachments 3 and 4 for the survey
questions and a full report of responses. In summary, the survey feedback illustrates a need for
more public education as well as continued attention to safety and parking.
Initially, the survey asked respondents to select all categories that reflect their identity in the
community. As shown in Table 3, many selected multiple categories, resulting in a total percentage
over 100. Out of the 180 respondents, 72 percent identified as residents of Dublin while 51
percent identified as someone who works in Dublin and eight percent identified as Dublin business
owners. The percent of respondents who identify as visitors or students in Dublin were nine
percent and one percent, respectively.
Table 3: Survey responses to how the respondents identify
Category Responses Percentage
Live in Dublin 130 72%
Work in Dublin 91 51%
Visitor in Dublin 16 9%
Student in Dublin 2 1%
Business Owner in Dublin 15 8%
When asked how many times respondents have used an e-scooter in Dublin, 71 percent said
‘Never’, 13 percent responded ‘Once’ and 16 percent have used an e-scooter more than once, as
shown in Table 4 below.
Memo re. Micro-mobility Demonstration Pilot Update
October 18, 2022
Page 6 of 8
Table 4: Survey responses relating to frequency of scooter use
Frequency of e-scooter use Responses Percentage
Never 127 71%
Once 23 13%
2 – 9 times 22 12%
10 or more times 8 4%
Survey respondents were asked about the perceived benefits of scooters in the community. A total
of eight options were presented, as shown in Table 5. According to the survey, the ability of
scooters to provide useful mobility options for people ranked the highest on the list of benefits,
followed by scooters help customers get to businesses a little farther away than a walking trip and
scooters improve air quality.
Table 5: Survey responses relating to benefits of scooter use
Benefit of scooters Responses Percentage
Scooters provide useful mobility options for people 101 56%
Scooters replace some Uber/Lyft rides 73 41%
Scooters encourage employee attraction and retention 32 18%
Scooters provide first/last mile connections to COTA bus service 63 35%
Scooters help customers get to businesses a little further away than a
walking trip 93 52%
Scooters are fun, an ingredient often missing in transportation options 83 46%
The option of scooters gives me a sense of pride in my community 41 23%
Scooters improve air quality 84 47%
The survey asked respondents to rank a list of potential operational changes for the City of Dublin
to consider for the remainder of the Micro-mobility Demonstration Pilot. As shown in Table 6,
respondents largely agreed that there is a need for special identification for scooter parking and
mandatory scooter parking at bike racks and other designated parking areas. A large majority of
respondents did not view annual e-scooter subscriptions as important. Staff will work with Bird on
special identification for scooter parking as well as mandatory compliance for scooter parking at
bike racks and other designated parking areas.
Memo re. Micro-mobility Demonstration Pilot Update
October 18, 2022
Page 7 of 8
Table 6: Survey responses relating to potential operational changes
Operational change Not important Somewhat
important
Important Very
important
Mandatory scooter parking at bike racks
and other designated parking areas 13% 14% 26% 47%
Special identification for scooter parking 12% 13% 28% 47%
Smartphone holders for Bird scooters 37% 14% 27% 22%
Increased e-scooter availability 52% 17% 16% 15%
Helmet availability when riding e-
scooters 36% 19% 17% 28%
More slower speed zones 24% 24% 16% 36%
Annual e-scooter subscriptions 62% 18% 12% 8%
Integration with COTA bus service 51% 20.5% 15.5% 13%
When asked where scooters should operate in Dublin, 31 percent of respondents support the
operation of scooters citywide while 26 percent would rather maintain the current operating zone,
as shown in Table 7. The remaining 43 percent of survey respondents would like to eliminate the
operation of scooters altogether. Analysis of the survey results show that 88 percent of
respondents who said they prefer to eliminate scooters altogether also answered ‘Never’ when
asked if they have ridden a scooter in Dublin.
Table 7: Survey responses relating to the operating zone
Where should scooters operate? Responses Percentage
Expand the operating zone citywide 56 31%
Maintain the current operating zone 46 26%
Eliminate the operating zone altogether 78 43%
Given the survey results and complaints documented by the Dublin Police, staff believes the pilot’s
education campaign should be expanded to focus more on scooter etiquette and safety. Ideas to
communicate to the public include additional social media posts and printed materials as well as
sandwich board signs at targeted locations to display safety reminders. Staff also recommends a
series of monthly mobility workshops at the Dublin Community Recreation Center, the CML Dublin
Branch, senior community centers and targeted businesses from November 2022 to March 2023.
These workshops would feature different modes of transportation—highlighting the Dublin
Connector shuttle, COTA bus service, Bird scooters, CoGo Bike Share and others. They would serve
as an opportunity to promote scooter etiquette and safety and support the City’s goal of a one
percent mode shift in the community.
The survey results indicate a need for more operational changes. For example, respondents
believe a special identification for scooter parking and mandatory compliance for scooter parking at
bike racks and other designated parking areas is needed. Given these operational changes, those
advised by Dublin Police, and the expanded communications plan, staff recommends delaying the
pilot boundary expansion to citywide until March 17, 2023 to ensure these modifications are
implemented successfully, and extending the pilot schedule to October 31, 2023. Should Council
Memo re. Micro-mobility Demonstration Pilot Update
October 18, 2022
Page 8 of 8
be supportive of extending the pilot project schedule, staff will return to Council at a future date
prior to the expiration of the current pilot with an updated Resolution to reflect the change.
Attachments
1. CC Memo 4-12-2022.pdf
2. PSC Memo 2-16-2022.pdf
3. Survey for Micro-mobility Demonstration Pilot – Phase 1.pdf
4. Responses from Micro-mobility Demonstration Pilot – Phase 1 Survey.pdf
Recommendation
Staff recommends Bird Scooters be restricted in travel lanes on streets that have a speed limit
higher than 25 miles per hour. Staff also recommends restricting Bird Scooters from riding in the
travel lanes on Bridge Street in the Historic District and on High Street between Rock Cress
Parkway and John Wright Lane. Staff will launch an education campaign that reinforces scooter
etiquette in alignment with state law and Bird’s company policies. A special identification for
scooter parking will be developed and implemented as well as mandatory compliance for scooter
parking at bike racks and other designated parking areas.
Staff also recommends delaying the Micro-mobility Demonstration Pilot boundary expansion to
citywide until March 17, 2023, and extension of the pilot project until October 31, 2023. Should
Council be supportive of this extension of the pilot project, staff will return to Council at a future
date prior to the expiration of the current pilot with an updated Resolution to reflect the change.
To:
Dublin City Council
From: Dana L. McDaniel, City Manager
Date: April 5, 2022
Initiated By: Megan O’Callaghan, PE, Deputy City Manager/Finance and Development Officer
Jennifer M. Rauch, AICP, Director of Planning
Jean-Ellen Willis, PE, Deputy Director of Transportation and Mobility
J.M. Rayburn, Planner II
Re: Micro-mobility Demonstration Pilot – Resolution 18-22 to Temporarily Permit the
Operation of Low-speed Micro-mobility Devices on Streets, Sidewalks and Shared-use
Paths
Background
The recommendations of the Frantz Road Alternative Transportation Lane Study, combined with
the interest of Bird to operate in Dublin, led staff to propose a Micro-mobility Demonstration Pilot
at the November 2021 meeting of the Public Services Committee. Staff received favorable
feedback from the Committee and followed up in February 2022 with information regarding the
pilot boundaries, timeline, Bird e-scooters phasing, speed limits, parking management, and
sidewalk congestion mitigation. The memos shared with the Public Services Committee for the
November 2021 and February 2022 meetings are attached for your reference.
At the February 2022 meeting, the Public Services Committee was supportive of the proposed
timeline and components outlined for the demonstration pilot. Furthermore, the Committee was
supportive of proposed Bird and CoGo Bike Share fleet sizes, supplemental signs, use of glow
pavers and proposed sidewalk congestion mitigation measures and locations. The demonstration
pilot proposal is consistent with the discussions and feedback from the Public Services Committee.
Staff anticipates the launch of the Micro-mobility Demonstration Pilot on May 1st in celebration of
Bike Month. Staff proposed the following timeline for the pilot:
Phase 1 (May 2022 to July 2022)
• Implement communications plan
• Demonstration pilot commences in May 2022 in recognition of National Bike Month
• Pilot launched within defined Phase 1 boundaries, as shown in Figure 1 on page 2
• Monitor and evaluate Phase 1 area for a minimum of 3 months
Phase 2 (August 2022 to May 2023)
• Expand pilot boundaries to be citywide
• Continue communications plan
• Monitor and evaluate Phase 2 area for 9 months
Pilot Concludes (June 2023)
• Conclude demonstration pilot
• Report findings to the Public Services Committee and City Council and provide
recommendations for next steps
Office of the City Manager
5555 Perimeter Drive • Dublin, OH 43017
Phone: 614.410.4400 Memo
Memo re. Micro-mobility Demonstration Pilot – Resolution XX-22
April 7, 2022
Page 2 of 3
Launch of Bird and CoGo Bike Share Services in Dublin
Pending approval of the Micro-mobility Demonstration Pilot by Council, Bird anticipates a launch in
Dublin by mid-May. CoGo Bike Share will debut later in the year to coincide with the completion of
the DCRC Mobility Hub. Staff anticipates CoGo to launch in Dublin in September with station
locations at the DCRC, the North Market Bridge Park, the library parking garage, and at the
intersection of Frantz Road and Metro Place North, as budgets allow. Figure 1 illustrates CoGo
station locations with green circles featuring a bicycle icon.
For specifics regarding designated parking areas for micro-mobility devices such as Bird e-scooters,
please refer to the February 16, 2022 Public Services Committee memo where this topic is
discussed in more detail.
Demonstration Pilot Cost Estimates – Signs and Materials
In order to implement the demonstration pilot as proposed, new signs and materials such as the
glow pavers will be installed. Funding is available in this year’s budget to cover these costs.
To enhance safety and amplify awareness of the existing cycle track in the Bridge Street District,
staff will install a collection of signs that will be strategically placed along the cycle track route
within the Bridge Park neighborhood. These signs may be attached on existing public
infrastructure, as shown in Figure 2 on page 3.
Staff will construct a 70-square-foot scooter parking area at the John Wright Parking Lot to be
identified with a paver product that has glow-in-the-dark components, as shown in Figures 3 and 4.
This location provides an opportunity to test glow-in-the-dark pavers for possible application in future
mobility projects. As an example, the sample shown below is from a manufacturer called Glow Path
Pavers, which claim a continuous glow of their pavers for six to eight hours after dark. The cost of
materials for 70 square feet of glow pavers is approximately $23 per square foot, or about $1,600.
Figure 1: Pilot Boundaries for Phase 1 (purple) and CoGo Stations (green)
Memo re. Micro-mobility Demonstration Pilot – Resolution XX-22
April 7, 2022
Page 3 of 3
Attachments
Staff has attached two previous memos to the Public Services Committee of Council from February
2022 and November 2021. Feedback from the Public Services Committee at the November 2021
meeting included requests of staff to provide additional information regarding the Demonstration
Pilot boundaries, timeline, Bird e-scooters phasing, speed limits, parking management, and
sidewalk congestion mitigation. These memos may be referenced for specific details regarding the
demonstration pilot proposal.
1. PSC Memo 2-16-2022
2. PSC Memo 11-10-2021 (with Frantz Road Alternative Transportation Lane Study)
Resolution 18-22
The launch of the Micro-mobility Demonstration Pilot in May will align with Bike Month and reflects
Dublin’s commitment to expand mobility options by supporting micro-mobility operators.
Additionally, the pilot builds upon the five essential elements of a Bicycle Friendly Community
including encouragement, education, equity, evaluation and engineering. Staff is requesting
Council temporarily permit the operation of low-speed micro-mobility devices, such as Bird e-
scooters, beginning May 1, 2022. Approval of Resolution 18-22 would direct staff to proceed with
the Micro-mobility Demonstration Pilot and would permit the operation of low-speed micro-mobility
devices on streets, sidewalks and shared-use paths for a duration of 12 months.
Recommendation
Staff recommends approval of Resolution 18-22 to temporarily permit the operation of low-speed micro-
mobility devices on streets, sidewalks and shared-use paths for a duration of 12 months, beginning May
1, 2022.
Figure 2: Example of sign to
amplify awareness of
Downtown Dublin Cycle Track
Figure 3: Examples of
Glow Path Pavers
Figure 4: Glow Path Pavers
after dark
To:
Public Services Committee of Dublin City Council
From: Dana L. McDaniel, City Manager
Date: February 10, 2022
Initiated By: Megan O’Callaghan, Deputy City Manager/Finance and Development Officer
Jennifer M. Rauch, AICP, Director of Planning
Jean-Ellen Willis, PE, Deputy Director of Transportation and Mobility
J.M. Rayburn, Planner II
Re: Mobility Study Update – Micro-mobility Demonstration Pilot Update
Background
This memo provides an update on the micro-mobility demonstration pilot. This proposed pilot
project is consistent with previous discussions with the Public Services Committee in 2021 when
the topic of micro-mobility vehicles, and specifically Bird scooters operating in Dublin, were
contemplated and received favorable feedback. Given the recommendations of the Frantz Road
Alternative Transportation Lane Study combined with the interest of Bird to operate in Dublin, staff
proposed to merge the two into a single pilot project at the November 2021 meeting of the Public
Services Committee. The Public Services Committee requested staff provide follow up information
regarding the Demonstration Pilot boundaries, timeline, Bird e-scooters phasing, speed limits,
parking management, and sidewalk congestion mitigation.
Pilot Boundaries
Staff proposed a two-phase approach for the pilot boundaries. Phase 1 would extend south from
Interstate 270 to Tuttle Crossing Boulevard and west from Sawmill Road to Interstate 270, as
shown in Figure 1. Phase 1 has a minimum three-month duration. During this phase, staff will
monitor and evaluate micro-mobility activity in conjunction with an education and marketing
campaign. Should Phase 1 prove successful, the pilot boundaries would be expanded citywide.
Office of the City Manager
5555 Perimeter Drive • Dublin, OH 43017
Phone: 614.410.4400 Memo
Figure 1: Pilot Boundaries for Phase 1 (purple) and CoGo Stations (green)
Memo re. Micro-mobility Demonstration Pilot Update
February 10, 2022
Page 2 of 10
Demonstration Pilot - Timeline
Staff is proposing the following:
Pilot Planning and Approvals (February 2022 to April 2022)
Review demonstration project with the Public Services Committee
Finalize goals, scope, timeline and evaluation
Create an engagement and communications plan to educate the public on boundaries of
the pilot, expectations of drivers and micro-mobility users, and enforcement practices
Staff anticipates to provide City Council the demonstration project parameters and details
and request that Council temporarily suspend Code at the April 11, 2022 meeting
Phase 1 (May 2022 to July 2022)
Demonstration pilot commences in May 2022 in recognition of National Bike Month
Pilot launched within defined Phase 1 boundaries
Monitor and evaluate Phase 1 area for a minimum of 3 months
Implement communications plan
Phase 2 (August 2022 to May 2023)
Expand pilot boundaries citywide
Monitor and evaluate Phase 2 area for 9 months
Continue communications plan
Pilot Concludes (June 2023)
Conclude demonstration pilot
Report findings to the Public Services Committee and City Council and provide
recommendations for next steps
Proposed Code Section for Temporary Suspension
As mentioned previously, staff identified one section of the Dublin Code that would need to be
suspended as part of the demonstration pilot. With the support of the Committee, staff will request
that Council temporarily suspend this section of Code at the meeting scheduled for April 11, 2022.
§ 72.061 Driving upon sidewalks, bike paths, street lawns or other areas
o No person shall drive or operate any vehicle, other than a bicycle, upon a sidewalk
or sidewalk area, or bike path, except upon a permanent or duly authorized
temporary driveway.
Bird and CoGo
Bird plans to start with 50 e-scooters in the Phase 1 pilot area. As useage grows and the operating
zone expands citywide, Bird would look to increase based on utilization. Bird has proposed to
increase its fleet by 20 scooters when the average rides-per-day exceeds two (2) over the duration
of a month. It is anticipated that with the larger citywide zone, the fleet of Bird e-scooters would
grow to about 100-125 scooters. With respect to CoGo Bike Share, staff plans to deploy four bike
share stations this year at the DCRC, the parking garage at the library, North Market Bridge Park,
and at Frantz Road and Metro Place North. Staff will request funding in the 2023-2027 CIP to
expand the CoGo system at five locations including Dublin City Hall, the Dale Drive COTA Park &
Ride, the DCS Emerald Campus, the East Plaza at Riverside Crossing Park, and Frantz Road &
Rings Road. Each of these stations will have 11 docks for parking CoGo bikes.
Memo re. Micro-mobility Demonstration Pilot Update
February 10, 2022
Page 3 of 10
Tools that Bird uses to encourage safe riding and parking include
geo-fencing, Community Safety Zones, and in-app notifications
and incentives. Geo-fences and Community Safety Zones were
described in the November 10, 2021 memo and is attached for
reference.
The Public Services Committee requested staff consider limiting
parking areas, especially in pedestrian zones. Bird recommends
embedding virtual parking locations in Historic Dublin and the
Bridge Street District, as shown in Figure 3. This feature allows
acceptable parking locations to be highlighted in the Bird app with
a photo for the rider to reference in addition to in-app incentives
such as a credit. This feature will help educate riders on
acceptable parking locations in order to mitigate sidewalk clutter
and congestion. In the event that a Bird e-scooter parks outside a
recommended location, a notification is sent to the local Fleet
Manager to rebalance the scooters back to the designated
locations. Furthermore, Bird has confirmed the capability to
implement No Ride Zones for streets such as Longshore Street
and special events such as the Dublin Market at Bridge Park and
the Irish Festival.
The Public Services Committee requested staff explore sidewalk
congestion mitigation measures in areas with narrow sidewalks.
This is being addressed in two areas and includes five components:
a mobility boulevard, parking management, targeted scooter
parking, a pedestrian only zone, and new signage.
Figure 3: Embedded Parking
Locations in Bird’s app
Figure 2: Example of Bird’s
in-app messaging
Memo re. Micro-mobility Demonstration Pilot Update
February 10, 2022
Page 4 of 10
Historic Dublin
Staff is proposing a ‘mobility boulevard’ to create designated
corridors for micro-mobility traffic that parallel streets with
narrow sidewalks. Mobility boulevards are in essence bike
boulevards but are inclusive for all micro-mobility users.
According to the National Association of City Transportation
Officials (NACTO), bike boulevards should be designed for
streets with motor vehicle volumes under 1,500 vehicles per day
(VPD), with up to 3,000 VPD allowed in limited sections of a bike
boulevard corridor. Based on this criteria, staff has identified a
potential route on low volume streets within Historic Dublin as a
start.
For the timeframe of the demonstration pilot, Darby Street
(2,000 VPD) and Mill Lane (1,000 VPD) provide a parallel route
to High Street and have traffic volumes under the 3,000 max
VPD guidance from NACTO. The mobility boulevard would
extend from North Street to John Wright Lane as a low-stress
alternative to High Street, as shown in Figure 4. Both Darby
Street and Mill Lane are designated as alleyways and have a
speed limit of 15 MPH. According to recent speed surveys, the
average speed for both segments is approximately 14 MPH.
Lower speed limits can increase comfort and safety for users.
Additionally, users of this proposed Mobility Boulevard could use
the existing enhanced crosswalk for crossing Bridge Street.
With the establishment of the Historic Dublin
Mobility Boulevard, staff proposes a parking
management plan for micro-mobility
vehicles that builds off existing facilities
within the district, as shown in red in Figure
5.Specifically, staff is proposing micro-
mobility parking at existing public bike racks
at six (6) locations. These include bike racks
at Gateway Brewing Company, at The
Avenue, at the southwest corner of the
intersection of North Street and North High
Street, inside the library parking garage, at
the Darby Street parking lot, and adjacent
to the Franklin Street Parking lot.
Additionally, staff is proposing the
conversion of an on-street parking space on
Mill Lane to a micro-mobility parking space,
as shown in Figures 5, 6, and 7.
Figure 4: Proposed Mobility Boulevard
(yellow) in the Historic District
Bridge St
Bridge St
Existing bike racks
Add parking area
Mobility Boulevard
Figure 5: Proposed Micro-mobility Parking
Management Plan in Historic Dublin
Memo re. Micro-mobility Demonstration Pilot Update
February 10, 2022
Page 5 of 10
Figure 6: Proposed conversion of one (1) vehicular parking space on Mill Lane (orange) to
micro-mobility parking area
Convert space to
micro-mobility
parking
Mobility Boulevard
Existing parking space
Figure 7: Street view of proposed micro-mobility parking area (orange) on Mill Lane
Memo re. Micro-mobility Demonstration Pilot Update
February 10, 2022
Page 6 of 10
Finally, staff is proposing the addition of a scooter parking area at the intersection of John Wright Lane
and Mill Lane, as shown in Figures 8 and 9. At this time, staff is not proposing the conversion of a
parking space at the John Wright Parking Lot; however, staff would propose the conversion of one
parking space for a temporary bike rack, if demand warrants it, as shown in Figure 10.
John Wright
Parking Lot
Figure 8: Aerial view of proposed scooter parking (orange) at the intersection of John
Wright Lane and Mill Lane
Figure 9: Street view of proposed scooter parking area at John Wright Parking Lot
Dublin Chamber
of Commerce
Memo re. Micro-mobility Demonstration Pilot Update
February 10, 2022
Page 7 of 10
Bridge Park
Staff is proposing a series of micro-mobility parking locations at
existing pocket parks lining Longshore Street. A total of five (5)
pocket parks line Longshore Street; three (3) linking to
Riverside Drive to the west and two (2) linking to Mooney Street
to the east, as shown in Figure 11. These pocket parks feature
accessible paths spanning the width of each block, which
permits access for micro-mobility vehicles. Concurrently, staff
proposes a ‘No Ride Zone’ on Longshore Street, spanning from
John Shields Parkway to Banker Drive. This is similar to a policy
adopted by the City of Columbus in September 2021 for High
Street in the Short North Arts District. Columbus users are not
able to park or ride rentable scooters along North High Street
between Goodale Street and Fifth Avenue. Messaging could
appear in apps for Bird and CoGo that designate Longshore
Street as a ‘No Ride Zone’ for scooters and bicycles, as shown in
Figure 12. Micro-mobility traffic would be funneled to Mooney
Street and to the Emerald Trail on Riverside Drive. Micro-
mobility parking would be designated at the east and west end
of each pocket park and at the corners of each intersection of
Longshore Street at Banker Drive, Bridge Park Avenue, Tuller
Ridge Drive, and John Shields Parkway. Under this scenario, if
micro-mobility users want to access Longshore Street, they
would have to complete their trip in a designated parking area
Figure 10: Street view of proposed scooter parking with proposed space for a temporary bike rack
Figure 11: Existing pocket parks
(magenta) and Longshore ‘No Ride
Zone’ (yellow) in Bridge Park
Memo re. Micro-mobility Demonstration Pilot Update
February 10, 2022
Page 8 of 10
and travel Longshore Street as a pedestrian. Staff is coordinating
the specific locations within the pocket parks for micro-mobility
parking with Crawford Hoying. Furthermore, City staff will work
with Crawford Hoying, Bird and CoGo to educate riders and the
general public to park their vehicles at bike racks and designated
areas. For example, Bird has the ability to customize in-app
messaging and can link riders to a City webpage outlining
appropriate parking and safe riding, prior to the first ride.
Demonstration Pilot Cost Estimates – Signs, Light Poles, and Materials
In order to implement the demonstration pilot as proposed, there would be costs associated with new
signs, replacement light poles, and materials such as the glow pavers.
Further efforts to mitigate sidewalk congestion point to looking at existing infrastructure with a new
lens, specifically the Bridge Street District cycle track. To enhance safety and amplify awareness of the
existing cycle track in the Bridge Street District, staff is proposing a collection of signs that will be
strategically placed along the cycle track route. These proposed signs may be cantilevered on existing
public infrastructure, as shown in Figures 13 through 17, or exist independently within the right-of-
way. These signs could be retroreflective or possibly illuminated.
Staff estimates the costs for each of these signs could range from approximately $200 to $15,000. For
a standard two-inch square post sign with sheeting in aluminum, much like a speed limit sign, the cost
would be closer to $200 and can be made in-house by City staff. For a more complex sign, similar to
the wayfinding signs shown in Figures 16 and 17, the cost is about $15,000. The higher costs of the
wayfinding signs include the concrete base, powder coated aluminum pole, and decorative pole base
as well as the costs for labor. For the demonstration pilot, staff recommends making the lower cost
signs in house and then implementing the rest of the signs pending a successful pilot.
Additionally, some of the proposed cantilevered signs would most likely require the replacement of
some existing light poles that are not designed structurally to withstand the extra weight of additional
signage. Staff would identify a suitable replacement light pole structure that would also support the
proposed signs. There is funding available in this year’s CIP to upgrade a few light poles for this
purpose.
Figure 12: High Street ‘No
Ride Zone’ in Lime app
Memo re. Micro-mobility Demonstration Pilot Update
February 10, 2022
Page 9 of 10
Staff is proposing the 70-square-foot scooter parking area to be identified with pervious or permeable
pavers, which the City has in supply. Figure 18 provides an example of a pervious paver treatment,
showing two different pattern styles. Another option for the Committee to consider is a paver product
Figure 13: Example of sign to amplify awareness
of Downtown Dublin Cycle Track
Figure 14: Example of sign to amplify awareness of
Downtown Dublin Cycle Track
Figure 15: Example of sign to
amplify awareness of
Downtown Dublin Cycle Track
Figure 16: Example of
rectangular sign on existing
wayfinding signs
Figure 17: Example of circular
sign on existing wayfinding
signs
Memo re. Micro-mobility Demonstration Pilot Update
February 10, 2022
Page 10 of 10
that has glow-in-the-dark components, as shown in Figures 19 and 20. This location provides an
opportunity to test glow-in-the-dark pavers for possible application in future mobility projects. The
example shown below is from a manufacturer called Glow Path Pavers, which claim a continuous glow
of their pavers for six (6) to eight (8) hours after dark. Staff is investigating the cost of installing 70
square feet of glow pavers.
If the Committee supports the use of glow pavers, staff could use funding from the Shared Micro-
mobility allocation in the 2022-2026 CIP, which provides funding to develop a bike and/or scooter
share program. For supplemental pavement markings to indicate designated parking areas and the
Historic Dublin Mobility Boulevard, there is funding available in the 2022-2026 CIP.
Recommendation
Staff would like to review several discussion topics with the Public Services Committee including:
1. Is the Committee supportive of the proposed timeline and components outlined for the
demonstration pilot?
2. Is the Public Services Committee supportive of the proposed Bird and CoGo Bike Share fleet
sizes?
3. Is the Public Services Committee supportive of the proposed sidewalk congestion mitigation
measures and locations?
4. Does the Public Services Committee have a preference for traditional pervious pavers or
glow pavers?
5. Does the Public Services Committee have a preference for signs associated with the
demonstration project?
6. Does the Committee have a preference for retroreflective signs or illuminated signs or a
mix?
7. Other considerations.
Figure 18: Example of
pervious pavers
Figure 19: Examples of
Glow Path Pavers
Figure 20: Glow Path
Pavers after dark