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E70 owners propose regulated scooter service for Sandpoint, emphasizing geofencing, helmets and speed limits
Summary
Bridal and Sarah LeBlanc of E70 proposed a franchise-model scooter service that would use geofencing, designated parking, photo-ID accounts and helmets; they recommended a 15 mph limit and suggested city ordinance updates before operations begin.
Bridal LeBlanc and Sarah LeBlanc, who identified themselves as the owners of E70, presented a proposal July 9 to operate an electric scooter service in Sandpoint under a franchise agreement and local ordinance updates.
"We want to bring electric scooters to Sandpoint to help alleviate the last-mile transportation issues," Bridal LeBlanc said, adding the company’s top priority is safety. The LeBlancs proposed an ordinance update and a franchise agreement similar to ones adopted in other Idaho cities, and said they would restrict scooters to designated zones, use geofencing to block downtown pedestrian areas during events, and require designated parking locations rather than allowing free-floating devices.
Key company commitments: E70 said it would supply helmets (the company noted helmets with turn signals and lights), require account creation (with optional photo-ID verification), offer parental-account controls with per-account speed limits for younger riders, and deploy class-2 scooters limited to about 15 mph with motor ratings they described as 350–750 watts. Bridal LeBlanc emphasized mechanisms to remove or ban accounts tied to vandalism or unsafe use.
Why it matters: company representatives said an approved regulatory framework would allow safe deployment while giving the city enforceable rules about where scooters may operate, how fast they can go, and where they park. Committee members raised the common concerns about mixing slower devices with traffic flow, enforcement and whether slower devices might be unsafe on higher-speed streets. Participants suggested prioritizing bike lanes and low-speed streets and coordinating plans with public transit stops.
Next steps: E70 asked staff to share municipal ordinance language (they supplied Moscow’s code as an example) and to work with the committee on geofencing and event exceptions. The committee did not approve any ordinance at the meeting; members asked to receive the company’s materials and to consider regulatory options through the newly formed working group.
