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Veo reports 62% ridership increase and reinstates forced-parking; council presses for faster removals and more hubs
Summary
Veo told the council ridership is up 62% year-over-year and that forced parking (geofenced end-of-ride) was reimplemented Oct. 24; councilmembers raised concerns about abandoned vehicles, chronic offenders, hub placement, helmet incentives and data-sharing.
Representatives from micromobility operator Veo briefed the College Park City Council on Nov. 19 about operations, safety and parking-compliance efforts as the service expands.
Alex Bozorgsky (Veo policy and partnerships) and Jeff Hoover (head of government partnerships) said the College Park market has seen a 62% year-over-year increase in ridership (comparing Sept–Oct this year to the same period last year) and that Veo operates stand-up scooters and e-bikes in the city. The company highlighted an accessibility program (Veo Access) and membership options intended to reduce per-ride cost for frequent users.
To address parking and sidewalk-blockage issues, Veo said it reimplemented a forced-parking (geo-fenced) requirement on Oct. 24, 2025, which prevents users from ending a ride unless the vehicle’s GPS indicates it is within an approved parking zone. "We reinstituted what we call forced parking...customers can only end their ride if the vehicle is within its GPS sensor...within a designated area," Bozorgsky said.
Veo described a three-pronged approach: an AI-driven "virtual parking coach" that prompts users to re-park if a photo shows noncompliant parking; a carrot of incentives (monthly drawings and membership discounts); and a stick of ascending fines and suspensions for repeat violators. Veo said initial data after forced parking showed a dramatic drop in tickets submitted to city operations.
Councilmembers raised operational concerns during a lengthy Q&A: chronic offenders who repeatedly end rides near—but not in—hubs; how residents can report improperly parked vehicles; the frequency and priority for picking up tipped-over vehicles and safety incidents; whether additional hubs and charging infrastructure can be provided; and whether helmet-detection incentives (an opt-in AI feature) will be available in College Park. Veo said it will provide follow-up data (suspension counts and ticketing trends), expand hubs where feasible, and coordinate monthly with the city and University of Maryland partners.
Council members also asked Veo to improve direct notification and removal procedures for vehicles left on sidewalks and in residential areas and requested a public method to report abandoned vehicles; Veo said it would share a reporting graphic for city use and explore additional hub placement and WMATA coordination for the Greenbelt Metro area.
No enforcement changes were enacted by the council at the meeting; Veo committed to follow up with requested data and to continue monthly coordination calls with city, university and neighboring jurisdictions.
