Some neighborhood and business leaders in Providence are worried that the city’s plan to allow more rental electric bikes and scooters on the streets will exacerbate problems with abandoned vehicles, obstructed sidewalks and dangerous drivers in the coming months.
There are currently 1,000 e-bikes and scooters on the streets of Providence, but thanks to Mayor Jorge O. Elorza’s decision to expand the city’s share program, an additional 1,200 vehicles will soon join them.
While the mayor’s office calls it “another step forward in cost-effective, sustainable transit options for residents and visitors alike,” some argue that the expansion will add to existing difficulties with the rentable e-bikes and scooters.
“It’s problematic if people are throwing bikes and scooters all over the place,” said Joseph R. Paolino Jr., a former mayor of Providence and managing partner of Paolino Properties LP, which owns numerous downtown buildings.
Sharon Steele, president of the Jewelry District Association, agrees.
“When people use them and are finished with them, they simply dismount and dump it wherever they are,” Steele said. “On sidewalks, streets, private properties, in doorways, blocking access to buildings.”
The bike- and scooter-sharing companies have had a bumpy journey in Providence since Bird Rides Inc. scooters first appeared unannounced in 2018. They were followed by JUMP e-bikes and Lime scooters. Soon reports surfaced that people were circumventing the electronics and taking the bikes for joy rides or for committing acts of vandalism and crime. Scooters and bikes were found dumped in the Providence River.
The city eventually pulled the sharing program and, in 2019, signed deals with VeoRide Inc. and Spin, a subsidiary of Ford Motor Co. E-bikes returned in 2021 when Spin entered into a yearlong contract with the city.
Now new contracts with VeoRide, Bird and Spin will more than double the number of small e-vehicles roaming the streets by September.
“Micromobility in general, whether those be electric scooters or bikes, are very well suited to the sort of scale and density of a city like Providence,” said Alex Keating, head of policy and partnership at VeoRides. “We’re really excited to be back.”
The Elorza administration says it has learned lessons and that things will be different this time, but it remains unclear if there have been reports of theft, vandalism or misuse since the relaunching of the program. The administration did not respond to requests for that information.
Elorza spokesperson Andrew Grande did say the companies have met city standards. He says the companies are responsible for removing vehicles that are incorrectly parked within two hours of being notified of a violation. The ride-share apps also require users to take a photo of the vehicle at the end of each ride.
There is always at least one VeoRide technician available for every 30 to 50 vehicles, Keating says.
Nevertheless, Steele is steamed about the lack of communication.
“The city made a decision to more than double the number of scooters and e-bikes without ever coming to the neighborhoods to ask us what our experience is and continues to be with the thousands of scooters and bikes littering the streets,” Steele said.
The program is drawing praise, too.
Liza Burkin, organizer for Providence Streets Coalition, says businesses overwhelmingly support the program, with only a small minority speaking against it.
“We live in a real city and deserve many ways to get around,” Burkin said. “Every day you should have the option to drive, take a train, walk, bike, or take a scooter.”
