Sidewalk Usage Charges: Kicksharing Companies Could Introduce Fees for Sidewalk Access
In the heart of Ekaterinburg, discussions are swirling around a novel way to keep e-scooter businesses in check. A growing number of deputies are pushing for the leading services - "Yurent", Whoosh, and "Yandex" - to shell out a fee for utilizing municipal amenities like sidewalks and parking lots.
As it stands, these e-scooter companies operate on public property without contributing a penny to the city coffers, while the city spends valuable resources on maintaining and renovating sidewalks. deputy Denis Khvantsev, a member of the interdepartmental working group on regulating street e-scooters, believes this situation is nothing short of unfair. According to Khvantsev, the funds accumulated from these fees could be used to construct bike lanes and set up dedicated parking spaces for e-scooters.
It's worth mentioning that this initiative isn't about putting undue pressure on businesses but rather fostering a constructive dialogue with e-scooter reps. For now, there's no talk of banning e-scooter rentals in Yekaterinburg, but fines may soon be imposed for improper e-scooter parking. The Ekaterinburg Duma is preparing to submit a related legislative initiative to the Legislative Assembly of the Sverdlovsk Oblast.
Khvantsev stated that the e-scooter companies are not adhering to the agreements they signed with the city administration. The companies cite technical difficulties as their justification. The imposition of fines, Khvantsev explains, would provide a much-needed incentive for companies to meet their obligations.
In the grand scheme of things, e-scooter companies worldwide regularly pay fees or enter agreements with local municipalities to operate on public property. This often entails obtaining permits and footing the bill for issues such as parking, maintenance, and user safety. For the latest developments on Yekaterinburg's e-scooter situation, keep an eye on local news sources or official municipal announcements. 🛵🚶♂️💸
- Deputy Denis Khvantsev suggests that the fees collected from e-scooter companies could be used for constructing bike lanes and setting up dedicated parking spaces for e-scooters, in an attempt to foster a constructive dialogue with e-scooter representatives.
- In other cities, e-scooter companies regularly pay fees or enter agreements with local municipalities to operate on public property, often involving obtaining permits and covering expenses related to parking, maintenance, and user safety.
- As it stands, the e-scooter companies in Ekaterinburg operate on public property without financially contributing to the city, while the city spends resources on maintaining and renovating the very sidewalks and parking lots the companies utilize.
- The imposition of fines for improper e-scooter parking, as proposed by Khvantsev, could serve as a much-needed incentive for e-scooter companies to meet their obligations and adhere to the agreements they signed with the city administration.
