CNT In the News

Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) and the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) on Wednesday released the results of the City’s first-ever electric scooter pilot program which revealed more than 800,000 rides taken during a four-month period last year.  The new report, conducted by the City in partnership with the Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT), aimed to evaluate the impact of emerging scooter technologies on communities, existing transportation systems and, most importantly, with regard to the safety of residents and riders. Based on the results of this evaluation, the City will recommend a second pilot in 2020 to build on last year’s successes, implement lessons learned and test new solutions with a goal of identifying ways to expand access to safe, reliable and equitable mobility options for Chicago residents. Key findings from the evaluation include:

• The 821,615 trips reported during the pilot indicated it was a popular mode choice for some residents and visitors.

• E-scooters were used most frequently during the evening rush period on weekdays and between 3 and 4 PM on weekends.

• Seventy-seven percent of rides started or ended in the eastern half of the pilot area, where prolific transportation options already exist.  This result indicates that more work needs to be done to understand how e-scooters could help supplement transportation in communities with limited access to other modes of transportation.

• One hundred two injuries related to scooters were reported by Chicago Hospitals during the pilot period. However, improved data collection and analysis are needed in the future to draw conclusions on the injury rates of this new mode. A future pilot will continue to emphasize the importance of safety while riding e-scooters.