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Commission clears rule change to allow seated scooters; denies Lime’s 50-unit fleet expansion request
Summary
The commission approved a rules change to allow seated e-scooter devices (gliders) under the scooter definition but denied Lime’s request to add 50 scooters to its fleet downtown, citing downtown saturation and planning guidance.
The Metropolitan Transportation Licensing Commission approved a rule amendment to include seated electric scooters in the local definition of scooters, clearing the way for seated devices to operate under existing scooter permits. Separately, the commission denied Lime’s request to increase its fleet by 50 units in the downtown core.
Why it matters: the definition change brings seated devices that differ from stand-up scooters into the regulated scooter category; the fleet denial preserves current downtown limits amid concerns about sidewalk clutter and alignment with the city’s downtown mobility plan.
The rule change removes the phrase that a scooter must have “a footboard for the user to stand on and no seat” and instead allows devices with a seat. NDOT staff and the company Lime presented the seated device last month; Lime’s representative, Lilly Krause, said the vehicles improved accessibility and appealed to older riders and women. Staff recommended the definitional change to align the commission’s rules with state law and to permit seated options under existing scooter permits.
On fleet size, NDOT staff opposed additional scooters in the downtown core and recommended any new units be deployed outside the most saturated downtown zones. Commissioners cited Hub Nashville and other complaint data and the Connect Downtown plan in deciding to deny Lime’s 50-unit increase for downtown. Commissioner Penley and staff said downtown corrals and facilities have been added but that clutter and public complaints remain a concern.
What comes next: the rule amendment enables seated scooters to be included in future fleet requests; Lime and other operators can propose redeployment plans or non-downtown fleet increases in subsequent filings. Staff said they will continue to monitor corrals and complaint trends and that companies may request fleet increases in future cycles if usage data support them.
Votes and conditions: the rule change passed after the public hearing and discussion. A separate motion to deny Lime’s request to increase the downtown fleet carried.
