Board backs permitting scheme for shared powered scooters, authorizes DPW enforcement

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors approved on first reading an ordinance that establishes permitting and parking rules for powered scooter-share companies and authorizes the Department of Public Works to abate or remove unauthorized devices.

Supervisor Aaron Peskin, sponsor of the ordinance introduced through the Land Use and Transportation Committee, framed the legislation as a measured permitting regime rather than an outright ban. "This is a basic permitting scheme to allow the professional staff at the MTA to permit these private companies, with sensible regulatory conditions and regulatory framework and to be able to confiscate unpermitted vehicles or devices," Peskin said during the board discussion.

The ordinance would amend Division 1 of the Transportation Code to establish a violation for scooters that are part of a share program to be parked, left standing or left unattended on sidewalks, streets or public rights-of-way under the Municipal Transportation Agency or Department of Public Works jurisdiction without an MTA-issued permit. It would also amend the Public Works Code to authorize DPW to abate or remove unauthorized scooters that are not part of a permitted program.

Peskin said the measure mirrors last year's stationless bicycle permitting approach and is intended to give city staff tools to address sidewalk obstruction, helmet use and privacy concerns tied to commercial operators that collect location and payment data. "Representatives of some of the companies yesterday, their privacy policies are frankly highly problematic; they can share credit card and location information with third parties," Peskin said. He also cited a Santa Monica settlement and federal-state discussions around scooter regulation as context for San Francisco's approach.

Supervisor Sheehy, who said she had ridden a shared scooter and found it useful for short "last-mile" trips, supported the ordinance while urging stronger infrastructure and helmet provisions: "They need to come with helmets. They should be parked in, they should have parking spots, much like bicycles... We should have more protected bike lanes. That's the place where they should be driven, not on the sidewalks."

The board took the measure on first reading without objection; the ordinance will return for a second reading and final adoption consistent with the city's ordinance process.

Provenance

- Topic introduction: transcript block beginning at 1489.845, where Supervisor Peskin opened remarks for Item 52 describing the ordinance and its intent. (block_id "1489.845", local_start 0, local_end 210, evidence_excerpt provided).

- Topic finish: transcript block beginning at 1921.6001, where the clerk noted the ordinance passes unanimously on first reading. (block_id "1921.6001", local_start 0, local_end 40, evidence_excerpt provided).