Davis commission recommends City Council approve three-year extension of Spin micromobility contract

The Davis Transportation Commission voted to recommend that the City Council approve a three-year extension of the city's shared micromobility contract with Spin after a presentation from company representatives and a public comment period that included both support and privacy concerns.

Spin's Rose Muller, senior director of policy, told commissioners the operator has completed about 541,000 trips in Davis under the current contract, which she said has averted roughly 95 metric tons of CO2 and saved an estimated 300,000 vehicle miles. Muller said the local team holds regular events and partners with community businesses and UC Davis on projects, and that the company plans to add new e-bikes this fall and deploy an e-cargo quad on the UC Davis campus to support battery swaps and maintenance.

Muller outlined pricing changes under the proposal, saying Spin is moving toward flat-rate fares (for example, $3 trip passes) and discounted student rates while keeping options for per-minute pricing for residents and visitors. The presentation and subsequent staff comments referenced a proposed local resident per-minute price; the transcript contains inconsistent minute-rate figures in different slides and staff remarks, and city staff said they would follow up with commissioners to clarify final rates.

Commissioners pressed Spin and staff about inflationary and labor pressures driving price increases, the geographic basis of a referenced 29% figure, and the business case for a three-year extension rather than a one-year renewal. Staff said the three-year term provides certainty for the operator and allows time to develop the service, while the contract continues to require regular coordination among the city, UC Davis and Spin.

Staff also said the contract permits up to 1,000 devices and currently specifies a device mix that effectively results in a 90% scooters / 10% bikes ratio; staff and Spin said usage has shifted toward scooters and that the partners will revisit the fleet mix as needed.

Public comment included a lengthy, unnamed objection alleging privacy risks tied to geofencing and claiming potential misuse by law enforcement; the commenter urged the commission not to continue the contract. Other speakers, including Stephen Sandoff (who identified himself as a Spin user), strongly supported the extension and suggested dedicating daylighting or corrals for parking, adding bike/scooter racks at transit hubs, engaging students in operations, and using data to identify parking hot spots. Commenters and the student representative also raised safety and improper parking as ongoing concerns and urged enforcement measures and design changes.

Following the presentation and public comment, a commissioner moved to support staff's recommendation for the three-year extension, the motion was seconded, and the chair called for a voice vote; commissioners responded affirmatively and no opposition was recorded in the transcript. The commission also voted to continue the meeting to hear remaining items.

Next steps: the commission's positive recommendation will be forwarded to the Davis City Council for its consideration on the contract extension. Staff said they will provide clarifications requested by commissioners, including final pricing details.