Group Says E-Scooters Will Boost Seattles Economy

The Seattle Department of Transportation last month launched a public engagement process in anticipation of launching a scooter share pilot program next year. Now, a group advocating for the use of motorized scooters has released a report saying the motorized transportation devices would increase access to economic opportunities.

The Micromobility Coalition, a Washington, D.C.-based group that advocates for personal transportation options, says a scooter-share program would shorten commutes and reduce reliance on cars for tens of thousands of Seattle residents.

This latest report shows the anticipated shared e-scooter services pilot program slated for next year will be a much-needed addition to Seattles transportation system, says Ryan McConaghy, Executive Director of The Micromobility Coalition.

The report notes that in South Seattle alone, the number of jobs reachable within 45 minutes from the intersection of Columbian Way and Beacon Avenue South increases by 48,000 when e-scooters are available as a transit option.

Seattle is one of only a few major cities without a shared e-scooter program. Last month, the citys Department of Transportation began work on shaping a scooter-share program similar to a bike-share program, with plans to launch a pilot program in the first half of next year.

Scooter share caught on in the U.S. in 2017, and pilot programs have since launched in Tacoma, Everett, Bothell and Redmond, according to the Department of Transportation.