For years, Albuquerque has been without a scooter and bike-share program, but a proposal on the City Council’s Aug. 5 agenda might change that. 

At the council’s June 12 Land Use Planning and Zoning Committee meeting, councilors discussed an ordinance — sponsored by Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn — to lower what the city charges scooter and bike rental companies in order to attract new vendors.

While the city does not run its own rental program, it allows rental companies to operate after a permit approval process. The process requires companies to pay application, permit and station fees. 

Fiebelkorn said in an email to her district that she wants to bring back scooter and bike rentals to make the city more accessible and fun for tourists. But to do that, she said, the city needs to lower its fees.

“Right now, the city charges companies too much to operate these services,” Fiebelkorn wrote. “For example, in Colorado Springs, it costs about $39,500 a year to run 500 scooters and 50 stations, but in Albuquerque, it costs $155,275 for the same setup. The new plan will lower these fees to make it affordable for companies to operate here.”

Fiebelkorn’s proposal would set permit application fees at $4,000 annually. The annual application fee would be $150 and companies would be charged $40 a year for a station fee. Read more about the city’s current program fees here.

At the June 12 meeting, Councilor Nichole Rogers said companies have indicated that the proposal would make the city a more attractive market. 

Alan Varela, director of the Planning Department, said during the meeting that the city had a shared scooter program before COVID-19, but the company that operated it, Zagster, experienced financial difficulties and ceased operations with the city. Varela said there was a challenge with scooters not being returned properly and getting “dumped places,” but advanced technology would help combat that problem. 

Varela said the city has been in contact with interested providers with improved geo-fencing capabilities — which prohibit the devices from operating in unpermitted areas. 

“The providers have also stated that users will not be able to terminate the usage fees they are being charged if the user does not park the device in an authorized parking area,” Varela told City Desk ABQ. “If those regulatory challenges can be eliminated to a great extent by the providers, that would be ideal.”

Fiebelkorn also wants to ensure that low-income residents will benefit from these shared transportation options. Her email to constituents stated that at least 20% of vehicles will be placed in areas that lack transportation options and the providers she has been working with “have affordability programs that give low-income users up to half off their trips.”

Varela said the Planning Department believes a shared transportation program could have a positive impact on residents and visitors and that the city has plenty of time between now and the council meeting in August to work through any questions, issues or improvements.

“The devices do not emit pollution, take very little road space and can be fun and useful when operated properly,” Varela told City Desk ABQ. “People taking short trips may find this mode of transportation to be an affordable and convenient option that is better than fueling, driving, and parking their automobile, or much better than walking long distances when the weather is too warm or cold.”