By Kalin Krohe, Panhandle Post
During the Nov. 2 Alliance City Council meeting, council approved a new municipal code amendment for publicly shared electric scooters.
This will allow the use of electric scooters, bicycles and other modes of transportation in the city's right-of-way.
Bird Rides Inc. will provide the scooters. Bird is an electric scooter rental service.
Alliance Mayor Mike Dafney asked Alliance Police Chief Philip Lukens if he had any concerns on adopting the code amendment during the Oct. 19 first reading of the ordinance.
"No," Lukens said. "From our standpoint, I've seen them just last weekend in Lincoln. They're all around downtown and they have a lot more foot traffic, a lot more population. I did not see them laying on the sides or in the gutters or anything like that. It seems like people utilized them...from what I was able to ask a couple restaurant owners there because they knew that we were doing this. They said pretty much people take them right to the stands. The people that are utilizing them find them to be very handy. They're used a lot during the games down by the stadium. My biggest concern I had was that they would not be placed back in the racks and that we're going to find them here and there. I think that's the big concern that we want to try to really watch for and continue to work with the community and make sure they do that. But at the end of the day, if they're not returned the batteries aren't being charged. I think in general it's a good idea. They do have a GPS in them. It's not like we're worrying about these thefts. If they show up in somebody's backyard they're going to be able to notify us and we'll be able to have a discussion with somebody."
Lukens thinks the electric scooters will benefit the community.
"The more active they are in the community; this is what we did with the painting of the crosswalks, some of those things to get people out actively in a community are signs of a healthy community," Lukens said. "It's that sign of a good quality of life...exactly what we are trying to accomplish for people to feel like they're safe in our city to go out and enjoy it."
Councilman Earl Jones asked if you have to have a phone app to unlock the scooters.
"Yeah, you have to be a part of the system," Lukens said. "Again, if you leave it in the middle of the sidewalk, we know who to track down. The city is not that big, we can go contact that person. Again, from what I heard from other people that's a rarity. It didn't seem like it was an issue and that's downtown Lincoln."
Councilman Annora Bentley said, "I was just kind of curious about how they monitor the fact that they are used only by persons 16 years of age and older? Is there some tracking mechanism in that app?"
"Technically, I don't think that's all the way possible, but I think it's a good way possible," Lukens said. "Because nowadays when you set up a cellphone for your kids on a cellphone account, you put in their accurate date of birth and they [app] recognize that a parent has to do certain authorities. For instance, my own kids they can get on the internet, but there are certain things they can't go to because the phone knows that it's a minor's phone. And so, the same thing with that app. Minors just can't download apps. Can somebody fault that system, yeah, absolutely. Somebody can set up a phone and give fictitious information...and utilize the system that way. A parent could active it and let their kid ride take off riding it. Again, I don't know how many parents are going turn their kids lose on an electronic scooter when they are 8. I don't see that being as big of an issue."
In other business, council:
-Approved an ordinance on the dissolution of the Park and Tree board. It will be replaced with an advisory board.
-Approved an ordinance on a street revenue bond on first reading. This relates to the City's General Obligation Highway Allocation Fund Pledge Bonds in the aggregate principal amount not to exceed $3,200,00. That money will be used for paying construction costs and improving certain streets in the city.
-Approved the purchase of a 2022 Ford F-250 4x4 pickup for the Electric Department from Cover-Jones Motor Company in Alliance. This pickup will replace the 2016 Ford F-250 pickup, which will be transferred to the Parks Department.
-Approved a bond intent for the Alliance library HVAC replacement project.
-Approved the fourth quarter financial statement and presentation from Randy Waggener.