Micro-Mobility Pilot

Background

Phase 1 – Launch

In May 2022, the City of Dublin launched a Micro-mobility Demonstration Pilot study introducing motorized Bird scooters to the City. The initial pilot limited scooter use to the Bridge Park and Historic Dublin areas.

Phase 2 – Citywide Expansion

In August 2022, the pilot program was expanded to allow low-speed micro-mobility scooters anywhere within City’s municipal boundaries (as outlined in blue on the map below).

Phase 3 – Operational Changes

In May 2023, Council approved additional operating parameters for the micro-mobility pilot program:

• Restricting rentable scooters from riding in the bike lanes of roadways that have a speed limit higher than 25 miles per hour.
• Installation of Glow Pavers in the John Wright parking lot behind the Dublin Chamber of Commerce to indicate a designated parking area for rentable scooters.

During both pilot program phases, scooter awareness, safety and education was shared with the community via social media, City website, Mobility Concierge and public survey.

In June 2024, Council will review the micro-mobility pilot program and consider extending the micro-mobility program for an additional 12 months and add bike racks at designated micro-mobility parking locations.

Current Status

Low-speed micro-mobility scooters expand mobility options for the Dublin community and ridership data suggests that most riders use micro-mobility devices for destinations ranging from a mile to two miles away—the first and last mile of a trip is often the most challenging for those who travel without a personal car.

Demand for riding micro-mobility devices continues to grow in Dublin. Year-over-year data shows Bird scooters experienced 31 percent more rides in April 2024 compared to April 2023 and riders increased the miles traveled on Bird scooters by 59 percent during the same time period.

While the Bird operating zone is citywide, the highest concentration of Bird scooter rides occurs in Bridge Park, Historic Dublin, Tuller Flats, Dublin Plaza and along the Sawmill Road corridor. The use of micro-mobility devices offers an attractive alternative to driving and parking in areas of Dublin that have a mix of land uses and a higher density of destinations, housing and workplaces.