New technology-enforced scooter-parking ‘hubs’ in West Seattle as city adds 4th provider, Spin

| Transportation | West Seattle news

The city announced today that it’s adding a fourth scooter provider, Spin (pending final authorization). The same announcement trumpets a pilot program going in West Seattle requiring scooter and bike renters to park in designated “hubs.” They’re shown on the map above. From the announcement:

We’re testing a new strategy to improve parking in West Seattle. Over the past few weeks, several new bike and scooter parking spaces were painted along Alki Beach and near the King County Water Taxi dock. Starting this week, scooter and bike share companies will start using GPS technology requiring riders to park in these designated spots. If someone attempts to park on the sidewalk or sand, the app gives them instructions on where to move the scooter before the user can end their trip.

Several of these bike and scooter parking hubs are located on the street within “No Parking Within 30 Feet” zones near crosswalks, and new signs make it even more clear that it is illegal for cars to park there. This takes advantage of curb space that isn’t currently being used and helps keep the sidewalk clear so everyone can get around. It also enhances safety by preventing cars from parking illegally in a way that blocks other drivers view of oncoming traffic and people crossing the street.

SDOT’s announcement also says the new company, Spin, will operate mostly in West Seattle for starters – it’s already next door in White Center – and explains its technology guiding “better … riding behavior” as well as proper parking.

Avalon Resident July 9, 2021 (4:36 pm)

What happens if you want to use a scooter to go somewhere other than Alki or Harbor Avenue? I realize those are the high-traffic areas, but I see people using those scooters all over the peninsula.

Roland Morehouse July 9, 2021 (8:46 pm)

Scooters are being used all over the city including capital hill.
- Avalon Resident July 10, 2021 (3:49 pm)
  
  Right. That doesn’t actually answer my question. The article says you can’t end your scooter trip unless you park it in a designated spot. But all the spots are on Alki. How does that work?

Flivver July 9, 2021 (4:45 pm)

Wil be great if it is actually enforced. Not holding my breath-or expecting not to still find haphazardly parked bikes and scooters. We’ll see……

M July 9, 2021 (9:01 pm)

It’s enforced by GPS. If you rent one and don’t return to a designated area then you can’t close out your trip and you continue to get charged.
alki_2008 July 12, 2021 (3:16 pm)

Once a user gets charged the max limit for not parking in the correct spot, then you can be sure they will park in the correct spot next time. Give it some time to see how it works out.

Marky Mark July 9, 2021 (5:11 pm)

The litter of broken gadgets on our city streets is a blight. Who is getting our civic funds for these boondoggles?

KM July 9, 2021 (8:27 pm)

Now do cars.
- Gull July 9, 2021 (9:27 pm)
  
  ^ hot damn
- Smittytheclown July 10, 2021 (6:43 am)
  
  Cars parked on sidewalks? Where?
  - bolo July 11, 2021 (11:47 pm)
    
    Here is a very recent example, for example:
    https://cdn.westseattleblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/IMG_0235-652×489.jpg
    - 🚫🚘 July 12, 2021 (2:05 pm)
      
      That’s a photo of the car that crashed into a gas line next to the building–doesn’t count as a parked car. It’s in the WSB article next to this one.

Mr E July 9, 2021 (5:17 pm)

Spitballing here: have we instead tried overhauling all city sidewalks so that they are fully accessible? Or maybe having less scooters and bikes around the city that are left wherever, making it difficult for people with disabilities to use those sidewalks?

Mike July 9, 2021 (8:07 pm)

Oh, you mean having the city follow federal laws for accessibility? I agree, that SHOULD be (and legally is) the priority, but giving millions to friends of the political elite is typically top of the agenda list instead.
- Lagartija Nick July 10, 2021 (10:08 am)
  
  Mike, do you have any proof that the owners of these scooter share companies are friends with anyone in city government? Do you have any proof that “millions” of city tax dollars are being “given” to these people? If not, your comment is a baseless and slanderous attack, conjured from the fevered dream of conspiracy.
  - Michael July 12, 2021 (1:22 pm)
    
    Ask Scott Kublyhttps://www.seattlepi.com/local/politics/article/City-Council-votes-to-buy-failing-bicycle-sharing-6889850.php
    https://www.seattlepi.com/local/transportation/article/Former-SDOT-head-Scott-Kubly-gets-job-with-12750511.php

Piles of scooters July 9, 2021 (5:26 pm)

Who exactly is asking for MORE of these things? All I see are scooters laying on the ground, stacked at corners and blocking sidewalks.

trickycoolj July 9, 2021 (6:09 pm)

How long before the kids in High Point hack the next brand and we have even more 8-10 year olds that can’t see over the handle bars screaming up and down the streets and alleys?

aa July 10, 2021 (7:36 am)

Please share with us TCJ why you feel the need to call out kids from High Point for this because I find your comment about High Point kids to be insulting and ignorant. Associating where people live to a certain kind of behavior is racist and uninformed.
- Illiterate? July 10, 2021 (4:52 pm)
  
  I enjoy reading Trickycoolj.The many comments in the past indicate Trickycoolj resides in Highpoint and often comments about the new Highpoint. This is not the Highpoint of old. It is a diverse neighborhood, but ascribing racism to anyone commenting on children in the area is making assumptions that the comment does not support. And without any association of race or neighborhood, it is a compliment to kids anywhere who can ‘hack’ the system.Please interpret comments by their content and not extrapolate to what is not written and may be your own bias.
Donna July 10, 2021 (8:10 am)

I’m curious as to why you specifically mention the kids in High Point as it’s an issue in many other neighborhoods around WS also. I’ve come close to getting run over by children while walking in my non-High Point neighborhood and I also frequently see 2 kids at a time on the scooters. And I’ve seen this in neighborhoods other than Alki or High Point also. It’s definitely not unique to those neighborhoods, so I’m wondering why the specific mention of High Point.

illiterate? July 9, 2021 (6:17 pm)

It appears people are posting without bothering to read anything but the last part of the headline.The solution proposed addresses those very complaints of this newly emerging form of transportation.

WS Resident July 9, 2021 (6:55 pm)

Watching the scooters go by on the Alki boardwalk – people are having fun! Good! But in terms of transportation? They might be used as intended in other parts of the city but I will wager that the usage records at the Alki locations are 99% for recreation – not transportation. It would be interesting to see how much the city pays to subsidize this recreational use. The city, of course – meaning taxpayers…

alki_2008 July 12, 2021 (3:23 pm)

The construction workers on Alki seem to use them regularly during lunch breaks to get food/drink over at Seacrest. I’d much rather see them getting fresh air on the scooters, rather than driving their gas guzzling trucks the 1-2 mile distance…….Also, some people do use the scooters to get to bus stops, especially if they’re running late and don’t have time to walk. Better to have them use electric scooters than jump in their cars when they can’t make it to bus stop in time by walking.

CP July 9, 2021 (7:43 pm)

I like this idea of using the 30’ of a crosswalk space. I’ve seen cars and tall vehicles (plural) every nice day using this space to illegally park for decades. People view it as the cost of doing business if they get a ticket but I think a lot of the time PEOs can’t get to the scofflaws. Only 3 PEOs in WS. Bikes are easier to see over and they hopefully won’t be blocking the sidewalk anymore (in this area).

KBear July 9, 2021 (8:24 pm)

What about all the CARS that are parked illegally? They take up a lot more space than bikes and scooters. Why would Seattle crack down on people using alternate transportation when they continue to allow car owners to park blocking sidewalks, driveways and intersections, facing the wrong way, on lawns and planting strips, and wherever else they please?

Runner July 9, 2021 (8:29 pm)

Great! We definitely need more electric vehicles on the walking , running and biking trails. Can someone tell me where the line is drawn now on electric vehicles vs pedestrians? I am now regularly seeing a golf cart driving back and forth on the Alki bike path. I honestly am confused, what is legal, are there any regulations?

What Do I Know July 9, 2021 (8:49 pm)

I believe the golf cart driver is the person who stops at different locations along the Alki Trail and sells Italian ices out of freezers attached to the back of the cart. I have no idea about permits for doing this, it’s something new this year.
alki_2008 July 12, 2021 (3:25 pm)

Pedestrians should not be on bike trails. If electric scooters are on bike trails, then what is the problem?……I’d like it if we could get pedestrians off the bike side of the trail. How about that?

Scooter Scot July 9, 2021 (8:40 pm)

You mean we won’t now have scooters left lying around our yards and sidewalks? Hooray. I guess.

4thGenWestSide July 10, 2021 (4:26 pm)

Had to look up a word in Marky Marks comment.. Sounded like something my grandad would say. boon·dog·glenoun

1.work or activity that is wasteful or pointless but gives the appearance of having value: “writing off the cold fusion phenomenon as a boondoggle best buried in literature”

verb

1.waste money or time on unnecessary or questionable projects:“the only guarantees are higher taxes and bureaucratic boondoggling”

Gable July 10, 2021 (6:16 pm)

Meanwhile grandad is looking up acronyms and other texting terminology, punctuation, and emojis to understand what the heck people are saying and meaning, i.e., LOL, OMG, ICYMI, IMO, IMHO, BTW, This, and why ellipses infer passive/aggressive intent, or a period means you are mad at someone–none of which makes any sense to a grandad; or, come to think of it, many people ; )
- anonyme July 11, 2021 (7:01 am)
  
  Thumbs up, Gable! Maybe grandad just knows how to use his words. The fact that the grandson doesn’t know many is not a poor reflection on gramps, but rather the reverse.

1WS Resident July 10, 2021 (8:42 pm)

Not to be a party pooper but I have watched literally thousands of scooter riders cruising full speed on the Alki boardwalk. Have never seen even one rider with a helmet, despite the fact the scooters can go as fast as a fast cyclist. That I can handle. What should concern us is the frequent use by kids that can barely see over the handlebars. I see it every day. I am sure the city and the vendors will claim that all the riders sign waivers. But when some 5 year old splits his head open or dies or get’s paralyzed it is going to a jury trial and despite the liability waivers you can bet that a jury will be sympathetic to the injured child and award a huge amount and it will come from the deepest pocket – the City. Observe the child riders for yourself and you may agree – it is just a matter of time before a major accident occurs and somebody suffers a life altering injury. It’s not an “if”, it’s a “when”.

anonyme July 12, 2021 (8:23 am)

Why would any city on earth need FOUR public scooter providers? Delhi, maybe. Seattle, no. This is destined to be yet another non-enforced Seattle mess. I would very much like to know the taxpayer investment in this; someone is benefiting, but it ain’t us. The locations make it clear that these scooters are for beach/tourist use, which does nothing to address transportation issues in Seattle, especially not West Seattle.

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