Friday, December 21, 2018
From car-sharing and app-based ride-hailing services, to launching the first large-scale modern bikesharing system in the United States, Washington, DC has long been an early adopter of new transportation technology. In September 2017, we embarked on a bold experiment: the initiation of a demonstration period in which the DC government would permit private companies to operate dockless bicycle and electric scooter-sharing services on our public streets. These services allow Washingtonians and visitors to rent bikes or e-scooters for short trips, usually through a smartphone app. Our goal was to see if the new technologies offered by these companies would expand the reach of sustainable mobility to new riders and more neighborhoods.