|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
The City of Coral Gables recently became the first municipality in Miami-Dade County to bring back scooters as a transportation alternative since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As a result of the pandemic, scooters were prohibited by a Miami-Dade County Emergency Order to avoid the spreading of the virus. As of Sept. 14, this ban was lifted.
“Coral Gables is a municipal leader in green initiatives and energy saving innovations,” said Douglas Cobb, Coral Gables senior traffic engineer and Micro mobility Program manager.
“We are proud to be a hub for ride sharing and ride alternatives by offering free trolley, ‘Freebie’ golf cart transportation, and now electric scooters for residents and visitors.
“We hope scooters increase the number of people that visit our Central Business District which is home to numerous restaurants, stores and art galleries. We are happy to be able to bring a safe transportation alternative while continuing to promote social distancing,” Cobb added.
Currently, there are 50 Spin electric scooters spread across the Miracle Mile, Merrick Park, and metro areas making exploring Coral Gables even easier. Although the beginning fleet will be comprised of 50 scooters, the city soon will welcome an additional 50 Bird electric scooters and is open to expanding the fleet if there is demand from residents and visitors.
Scooters in Coral Gables will have a top speed of 15 mph. While the scooters will be welcomed and encouraged throughout Coral Gables, certain areas will be deemed “No Ride Zones” due to an increased amount of pedestrian activity — including Miracle Mile, the Granada Golf Course and Giralda Plaza.
E-scooters offer a safe alternative to getting around the city. In response to the COVID-19 crisis, Spin has increased the frequency with which scooters are disinfected. Each scooter is cleaned with disinfectant wipes or spray and a clean towel at all major points of contact handlebars and mast — before it can be repaired or charged so that riders always receive sanitized scooters. Once Bird returns, they will follow similar cleaning protocols.
Comments are closed.