Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
NYC pushes to make e-scooter rentals permanent in the East Bronx
By
Stephen Nessen
Published Nov 14, 2022
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Jake Offenhartz/Gothamist
By
Stephen Nessen
Published Nov 14, 2022
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Department of Transportation officials on Monday announced steps to make permanent the electric scooter rental program launched in the East Bronx last year.
The program — which was established as a pilot in August 2021 — has allowed three companies to deploy two-wheelers on some sidewalks in the Bronx that can be rented by the minute through smartphone apps.
Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said the pilot saw more than 1.3 million rides since it launched — with no deaths and only minor injuries reported among riders.
Rodriguez said the DOT will seek bids from companies as the next step to make e-scooter rentals a fixed part of the city's transportation networks.
A DOT report on the pilot released Monday found the average ride on the e-scooters was just over a mile long, which helps solve “the first/last mile problem," or commuters who lack easy connections to their primary train or bus stations.
During the pilot, the e-scooter companies — Bird, Lime and Veo — deployed some 6,000 scooters in the East Bronx, and offered discounted rates for low-income riders.
Parking, however, was an ongoing issue, with 24% of scooters improperly parked during each inspection, the DOT report found. The apps direct riders to store the scooters on specific parts of sidewalks.
Dangerous behavior among some riders also caused concerns for the city.
“DOT will adjust safety measures and develop new strategies to mitigate sidewalk riding and underage riding among other behavioral issues,” the report notes. “Technology can also reduce instances of poor riding behavior.”
The news comes as the city looks to crack down on the sale of certain types of lithium ion batteries, which are used in e-scooters.
DOT officials said the e-scooter rental program will expand to other parts of the Bronx, but did not specify where or how many scooters will be added. Officials said that depends on the bids, as well as “land-use requirements, existing transportation infrastructure and community input.”
The pilot program launched after a 2020 state law allowed the city to permit e-scooter rental services to operate anywhere in the five boroughs outside of Manhattan.
Tagged
transportation
bronx
Stephen Nessen
Stephen Nessen covers transportation. Since 2008 he has reported on everything from Occupy Wall Street, the rebuilding of the World Trade Center site, Hurricane Sandy, to Trump’s campaign for president. His transportation reporting has taken him everywhere from the MTA’s secret Rail Control Center to the gleaming subways of Seoul. Got a tip? Email [email protected].
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
2 pedestrians killed in Bronx crash after driver ran red light, police say
The NYPD said the investigation is continuing and no one had been arrested Saturday.
By
Brittany Kriegstein
and
Ann Givens
Published Oct 10, 2026 at 1:24 p.m. ET
Rain could put a damper on NYC’s long weekend. Here’s when it will clear.
Remnants of Hurricane Isaias could bring more than an inch of rain, gusty winds and even a thunderstorm Sunday before conditions improve Monday.
By
Brittany Kriegstein
News
Rain could put a damper on NYC’s long weekend. Here’s when it will clear.
Remnants of Hurricane Isaias could bring more than an inch of rain, gusty winds and even a thunderstorm Sunday before conditions improve Monday.
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Holy civics! NYC schools' own comic books in the spotlight at Comic Con
By
Jessica Gould
What we know about the ICE shooting in NYC
By
Karen Yi
DSA to Mamdani: Fire NYPD commissioner if ICE doesn't leave NYC
By
Elizabeth Kim
,
Brigid Bergin
and
Ben Feuerherd
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .