Dockless electric scooters now permanently in Milwaukee

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) – Electric scooters are here to stay.

"No matter what neighborhood they live in, no matter what zip code, no matter what their race or what their income is, they also have access to these tools and get around the city in a way that is most convenient and is best for them," Mayor Cavalier Johnson said.

On Monday, the city announced its permanent e-scooter program. It is part of what Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson said is the city's commitment to micro-mobility, a method of transportation for short distances that foregoes cars.

"If you have a job, and it's a mile, let's just say, off of the bus line, if you have access to a scooter, then you're able to still get to where you need to go in an affordable way, and that's what our goal is here with this program," Johnson said.

Since 2019, the city has operated pilot programs centered around scooters. According to the mayor, the pilot programs garnered 1.5 million trips. Now, with their permanent presence, the hope is that more people will ride scooters down the streets.

"Micro-mobility provides equitable transportation. Scooters and bikes can be deployed in neighborhoods where transportation options may be limited," Milwaukee Dept. of Public Works Commissioner Jerrel Kruschke said.

Right now, profits are estimated at $400,000 a year, with much of the money the city makes going to traffic calming measures.

"The proceeds are to help us build out the mayor's vision of 50 miles of protected bike lanes," Kruschke explained. "We want these individuals, who are riding these pieces of equipment, to ride in protected bike lanes."

Lime and Spin will offer these dockless scooters to riders, and depending on what time of year it is, both will have a minimum of 500 scooters available.

For more information on the dockless scooter program, click here.