There might be a new way to get around Chicago soon. Mayor Rahm Emanuel is trying out a new electric scooter test program on the city's West Side before he leaves office. Here's more from Curbed Chicago:
As Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel prepares to leave office in three weeks, a top priority identified by his Mobility Task Force is moving forward with the deployment of a fleet dockless electric scooters on the city’s West Side. The test program will allow officials to evaluate the technology as a new way to cut down on automobile traffic and better connect residents to existing transit options.
“The City is committed to improving transportation access, reducing single-occupancy vehicle use, and providing first- and last-mile solutions to support public transit,” said Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) in a statement. “This program is designed to test how scooters as a mobility option can support these goals.”
While the four-month pilot program won’t begin until June 15, CDOT and the city’s Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) are currently accepting applications from vendors. Capped between 2,500 and 3,500 units, the scooters will be evenly split among selected participants.
Would you try this?