City Council Approves Permanent Scootershare Program, Chicago, IL 2021

After completing two e-scooter pilots, the Chicago City Council approved a permanent scootersharing program for Spring 2022. This new ordinance allows for an initial fleet of 6,000 e-scooters to operate across the city. Depending on demand, Chicago’s transportation commissioner can authorize up to 12,500 e-scooters to operate inside the city proper. Unlike in the previous pilots, scooters are also allowed to operate in Chicago’s downtown. Geofencing technologies will prevent customers from riding the scooters on sidewalks. Customers can use the e-scooters between 5 AM and midnight every day of the week and must lock them to poles or bicycle racks when not in use.

The City of Chicago will charge the selected scooter providers $1 per day for each vehicle they rent out. This licensing fee is expected to generate about $4.4 million for the city. Customers will also pay a $0.09 tax to the City for every dollar the scooter companies charge them.

E-scooters can be effective in helping customers complete short trips or the first and last miles of their transportation journeys. When this permanent program is implemented, Chicago residents will have another transportation option available to them. 

Last updated December 1, 2021