Motorized Scooter Share Program in SoWal?

The single worst thing that I see regarding e-scooters...and I am immersed in them every weekend...is the fact that their business model is based on using them and leaving them wherever you wind up. I see hundreds of them every Friday and Saturday night all over sidewalks on their sides, on the steps in front of shops and restaurants, and anywhere else you can thing of. They look like discarded children toys.

Do I think that they will be a Sowal issue? No. Seasonal use does not fit their business models, and they are not about picking up their inventory and moving it to chase money. They want a steady stream of revenue so that, in my humblest of opinions, does not make 30A particularly inviting for them.

Now, with all that being said you can buy these things online and at Walmart for relatively little money so it's not beyond the realm of possibilities that they will show up, but they will be individually owned.

On a tangent, though, and before everybody goes wild on the no motorized vehicles thing I noticed that Sowal has a bigger issue than e-scooters on the path. I found at least two, maybe three, vendors who are renting electric assist bikes. These are valid businesses so Walton county knows well and good where those bikes are going to be used.

So here's your real issue. No motorized vehicles means no motorized vehicles. It doesn't mean these are OK, those are not OK, and the rest fall into a gray area. Until that gets clarified you have an unenforceable ordinance on the path. In the spirit of full disclosure, I own and ride a Onewheel (www.onewheel.com), and I do ride it on the path, but I do not ride like an ass hat, and I'm respectful of everybody on the path. The ordinance likely was written when the path was built and has not changed with the times. Back then there were only golf carts and ATV's. It's a whole new world.

Jodi: try 3-4 BILLION dollars income annually. They support property values, retail shops and subsidize our services. Take the numbers away and property values become soft, VRBO’s become nonexistent, etc.

I don’t believe the demographics of this area support the scooter industry anyway so everyone is getting their shorts in a wad for little reason. Relax.

Are you arguing that we should do everything we can to make tourists come here?

Jodi: try 3-4 BILLION dollars income annually. They support property values, retail shops and subsidize our services. Take the numbers away and property values become soft, VRBO’s become nonexistent, etc.

I don’t believe the demographics of this area support the scooter industry anyway so everyone is getting their shorts in a wad for little reason. Relax.

Relax? Yea thats why I moved here long before those millions of tourists came. I got along just fine back then (still do). Dont plan on selling or borrowing any $$ on my already paid for home. Still have most of the same great neighbors in a non-VRBO area. The business owners that I know still have their businesses from back then...if they can make it when there was very limited tourism they are doing something right and I dont worry about them.. So your argument means nothing to me. A couple of million less tourist could be a good thing..less traffic,less stress, some of those income producing VRBOs could become the affordable housing so desperately needed in this area. This area was pretty cool before a bunch of folks trying to get rich at the expense of the nature,environment.and locals came in and made it all about making the almighty tourist dollar while they sit at home ,somewhere that is not here,and wait for that cash to hit the bank. Bet if their neighbors started putting up their houses on VRBO or AirBNB they would have a fit.

Relax? Yea thats why I moved here long before those millions of tourists came. I got along just fine back then (still do). Dont plan on selling or borrowing any $$ on my already paid for home. Still have most of the same great neighbors in a non-VRBO area. The business owners that I know still have their businesses from back then...if they can make it when there was very limited tourism they are doing something right and I dont worry about them.. So your argument means nothing to me. A couple of million less tourist could be a good thing..less traffic,less stress, some of those income producing VRBOs could become the affordable housing so desperately needed in this area. This area was pretty cool before a bunch of folks trying to get rich at the expense of the nature,environment.and locals came in and made it all about making the almighty tourist dollar while they sit at home ,somewhere that is not here,and wait for that cash to hit the bank. Bet if their neighbors started putting up their houses on VRBO or AirBNB they would have a fit.

You go girl! or You go boy!

Up here in Atlanta we just had our fourth e-scooter fatality in a very short span of time. Today, the Mayor banned the use of all shareable e-scooters and e-bikes between 9pm and 4am. I don't think an outright ban is that far off. This shows that they can be managed at the local level, but it won't happen unless voices are heard...

So sad to hear about all those folks...not to mention the injuries we DONT hear about. In Dallas I saw not one helmet with any of them. If Florida requires a helmet for under 16 bicyclists where do these things fall under that law? I didnt see one helmet with any of those in Dallas. They are out there for anyone with a free app on their phone to use provided a credit card or paypal is attached to it. Hopefully our county attorney will investigate ALL the angles.....

Helmets required by all in Atlanta.
Adherence to the law? Maybe 0.001%


You can't fix stupid

Nashville, TN has a whole different vibe than our coveted time spent in Seagrove each year. We have roughly 7 scooter companies overseeing 4,000 (yes, four thousand) scooters in Nashville. The mayor wants to terminate their contracts, develop a strict process for oversight through the Transportation Licensing Commission and limit it to two scooter companies. They are left on sidewalks and block ramps for those in wheelchairs (bad). They’re an affordable public transit option for lower income locals (good). They can have their place in certain settings but you have to get a handle on it from the get go. We love visiting 30A and strictly respect and obey your beach regulations and local laws. We want to take care of what we are blessed to enjoy each year and preserve its atmosphere. It would be a bummer to see scooters in the area. The bicycles and golf carts are plenty.

Nashville, TN has a whole different vibe than our coveted time spent in Seagrove each year. We have roughly 7 scooter companies overseeing 4,000 (yes, four thousand) scooters in Nashville. The mayor wants to terminate their contracts, develop a strict process for oversight through the Transportation Licensing Commission and limit it to two scooter companies. They are left on sidewalks and block ramps for those in wheelchairs (bad). They’re an affordable public transit option for lower income locals (good). They can have their place in certain settings but you have to get a handle on it from the get go. We love visiting 30A and strictly respect and obey your beach regulations and local laws. We want to take care of what we are blessed to enjoy each year and preserve its atmosphere. It would be a bummer to see scooters in the area. The bicycles and golf carts are plenty.

:welcome:

Another e-scooter fatality in Atlanta last night...

And how many bicycle fatalities in Atlanta? Maybe a better question would be how many bicycle fatalities have there been on the Emerald Coast? Any time people on small vehicles collide with large vehicles there will be injuries and fatalities.

And how many bicycle fatalities in Atlanta? Maybe a better question would be how many bicycle fatalities have there been on the Emerald Coast? Any time people on small vehicles collide with large vehicles there will be injuries and fatalities.

Wow dude - you're cold.

Helmets required by all in Atlanta.
Adherence to the law? Maybe 0.001%


You can't fix stupid

Maybe they can ban stupidity in Atlanta. Banning things and certain kinds of behavior always solves problems doesn't it?

The Board of County Commissioners, Walton County, Florida (the “County”) is seeking proposals from multiple firms to provide motorized scooter services in designated areas in the County as part of a Motorized Scooter Pilot Share Program (“Pilot Program”).

RFP CLOSES: April 28th, 2022, August 29, 2022, no later than 3:30 PM local time and will open immediately thereafter.

All technical questions regarding this Request should be directed in writing; preferably by email to the Purchasing Agent. Questions shall be submitted no later than 12:00 Noon (local time) on April 14th, August 15th, 2022. PROPOSERS DIRECTING QUESTIONS TO ANY OTHER COUNTY STAFF, OR ANY OTHER PERSON SHALL BE DISQUALIFIED FROM SUBMITTING. Questions submitted after that date and time will not be answered.

BIDDER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DELIVERY OF ITS SUBMITTAL. SUBMITTALS RECEIVED AFTER THE SPECIFIED DAY AND TIME WILL NOT BE OPENED. THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT IS CLOSED ON ALL FRIDAYS.

LATE SUBMITTALS RECEIVED AFTER THE AFOREMENTIONED DEADLINE DATE, EITHER BY MAIL OR OTHERWISE, WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED AND WILL BE RETURNED UNOPENED. THE TIME OF RECEIPT WILL BE DETERMINED BY THE TIME RECEIVED IN THE PURCHASING AGENT'S OFFICE. IT IS THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE FIRM FOR ASSURING THAT THE RFQ IS RECEIVED IN THE PURCHASING OFFICE BY THE DESIGNATED DATE AND TIME. NO FAXED, ELECTRONIC, OR ORAL RFP WILL BE ACCEPTED.

To be considered, Proposer must submit ONE (1) paper original and ONE (1) digital copy of their proposal on a USB thumb drive in a sealed envelope or package, clearly marked with the Proposer’s name, address, and the words “RFP 22-001A MOTORIZED SCOOTER PILOT PROGRAM” addressed to: Office of the Central Purchasing 176 Montgomery Circle, DeFuniak Springs, FL 32435.

Publication Date/Time:
2/25/2022 12:00 AM

Didn't the last one fail for lack of bidders?