Rental kiosks could be set up in Whitewater this summer
By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
The site of riders buzzing around Whitewater on electronic scooters could become a reality as soon as this summer if a recently unveiled proposal gains traction.
Last week, the Common Council discussed with city staffers a preliminary agreement from Bird Rides Inc., one in a growing fleet of companies hoping to harness the app-based culture with electric scooter rentals.
While the council was receptive to the proposal, officials held off on a vote at the May 18 meeting until a representative of Bird was able to address the company’s plans for Whitewater and answer questions about operations protocol.
City Manager Cameron Clapper said he and other municipal staffers have been in conversations with Bird representatives since the company first presented its proposal months ago.
From his vantage point, Clapper said he believes there would be little, if any, risk to the city if the electric scooter program does go forward – particularly if a clearly outlined agreement is in place. A pilot one-year document could be inked before a longer-term plan is set in motion.
“I would recommend at least trying it at this point and seeing if it sticks,” Clapper said.
While the city itself is tentatively receptive to the use of electric scooters, the proposal reportedly has been met with a more lukewarm response on the grounds of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater campus.
Clapper and Police Chief Aaron Raap each confirmed conversations with UW-Whitewater representatives, including student government.
“What surprised me, and surprised some of the staff at the university, was how overwhelmingly against this idea student body government was,” Raap said of joint meetings concerning Bird’s plans.
In its relatively brief existence, Bird and similar app-based companies have set their sights on larger cities, oftentimes with a base of younger consumers ready and willing to use its service via a smartphone.
If UW-Whitewater were to prohibit the use of electric scooters on its campus, Bird could enable its fleet to become inoperable on campus through GPS technology. But questions on the demand for the scooters beyond campus also could enter the conversation if and when a final agreement is reached.
Council member Lisa Dawsey Smith said the Bird proposal also opens up a broader discussion about the city’s disparate transportation needs.
“Admittedly, I think there are some members of our community who have challenges with transportation,” Dawsey Smith said. “But I don’t necessarily think that a scooter is going to necessarily help someone who needs to run to Walmart to get grocery items.”
Prior to the meeting, Council President Lynn Binnie said he reached out to the city planner in Midland, Mich., a community with a similar demographic profile to Whitewater’s, including a university presence.
Electric scooter rentals recently began in Midland. Recounting his conversation with the Midland representative, Binnie said no problems were noted within the community.
“This is a very fast growing mode of transportation nationally, and this company has grown phenomenally,” Binnie said.
In addition to asking that a Bird representative come before the council before definitive action is taken, officials are directing Clapper and City Attorney Wally McDonell to work in tandem and create an ordinance on electric scooter rentals.
“I really think, for us to even decide to agree to a program with such a vendor, it would be in our best interest to have an ordinance on this subject,” Binnie said.
