By Pepper Fisher

PORT ANGELES – Port Angeles City Staff on Tuesday reported to City Council the results of the Bird Scooter survey they conducted this month, and the results from the public were mixed, with an overall score of 3 stars out of 5.

The 12 day survey was completed by nearly 300 respondents. Of the total responses, 97 percent were from our two local zip codes. When asked where they had heard of the program, 44% said they had seen them around the city. The news media and social media made up most of the others.

Although the vast majority of respondents were aware of the scooters being available, 72% of the respondents hadn’t tried one yet, 20% had used them 1-5 times, 5% had used them 6-10 times, and 2% more than 10 times. Riders used them for going to work, shopping and going to city parks.

When asked what the City could do better with the scooter program, the top answer from respondents, at 45%, was that better enforcement of scooter parking should be a priority.

Of the people who want to get rid of the program altogether, the main sentiment was a feeling that they are not properly parked and cause disruption because too many riders use the sidewalk instead of riding in the street. There was also a prevalent misunderstanding that this is a City-led program instead of the reality that the program is solely under the care and maintenance of Bird Ride.

Staff has shared the survey results with Bird Ride, Inc. and agreed that a contract extension should include the following revisions:

• A 72-hour window will be required for pickup and redeployment of scooters at identified deployment locations within the city.
• A 24-hour pickup window will be required when the fleet manager is notified of incorrectly parked or non-functioning scooters.
• Identifying locations for downtown deployment areas, and better geofencing for parks.