Veo geofence resolves sidewalk parking complaint; vendor developing accessibility features

A resident complaint about dockless scooters blocking sidewalks led Veo and city parking staff to implement a geofence that prevents users from parking scooters in the affected neighborhood.

A staff member described the resolution to the board: “Veo ... put a geofence around that neighborhood that makes the entire neighborhood a no park zone for VO scooters. You can still drive your Veo through it, but you cannot park it.” The board had identified a cluster of devices near Boulevard of the Arts and Coconut and around the Modern/Art Ovation area.

Staff said Veo is also pursuing technology to improve both safety and accessibility: improved fall detection to locate devices and users in crashes, seated scooters with hand‑throttle controls, and a device that can connect to a standard wheelchair to allow the scooter to pull the chair. The staff member said some accessibility features are not yet launched in the local market.

Why it matters: scooter clutter on sidewalks creates barriers for pedestrians and can disproportionately affect people who use mobility aids. The geofence is an operational remedy that staff and the vendor applied without a new ordinance or enforcement change.

The board asked staff to continue monitoring problem areas; staff said they are also working with parking to install additional corrals in high‑use locations and that Veo is reviewing data to place corrals where users are most likely to park.

Ending: Staff asked board members to email locations where devices routinely obstruct sidewalks so the city can pursue targeted geofences or corrals.