What Is Shared Mobility?
What Is Shared Mobility? Shared mobility is the official term for bike shares and dockless scooter/bicycle systems. Shared mobility devices provide users an option to rent personal transportation for one-way trips. For now, users in Salt Lake have the choice of GREENbike and e-scooters from several companies: GREENbike, Spin, and Lime.
How does it work?
A shared mobility device is rented to the public from multiple locations within a city. To begin the rental process companies typically require users to download and app to unlock the device, or in the case of GreenBike, use a kiosk at a station. When finished with a trip on a dockless e-scooter, users should park the device anywhere between sidewalk and the curb – where you might see a bench or a trash can, but not blocking pedestrian walkways.
How can you be a courteous user?
Salt Lake City prohibits sidewalk riding in the downtown area to keep riders and pedestrians safe. If you are using an e-scooter or bike, you must ride in the street in bicycles lanes or travel lanes. Walk your wheels on the sidewalk!
Be courteous and thoughtful of pedestrians and bicyclists when you are parking a dockless e-scooter.
The general rule of thumb is you can park a shared dockless device between the sidewalk and the curb as long as it is not adjacent to:
- A bike rack
- A lamp post, or other street pole
- UTA bus stop sign
- On the sidewalk where it will impede ADA access and the general flow of people
You cannot park a shared bicycle or scooter:
- Within 50 feet of a GREENbike station
- At a UTA bus or TRAX stop/station
- In parking spots dedicated to cars
What’s Happening
In July 2018, the first dockless scooter companies launched in Salt Lake City. In 2020 the Salt Lake City Council adopted an ordinance (56-20) to include a dockless shared mobility section to City code. This ordinance sets requirements for scooter operators and users.
The City is working on creating a parking map and possible parking infrastructure in downtown and in other high-use areas.
To explore some of the data on scooter use in Salt Lake City, you can visit our public data map.
Questions or Concerns?
For more information on shared mobility, to ask a question, or file a complaint, please email dockless@slc.gov.