The first batch of rental scooters are on the streets in Wichita. Wichita mayor Jeff Longwell and city council members Becky Tuttle and Cindy Claycomb cut a ribbon to officially open a rental service by Zagster, which already provides bicycle rentals in the downtown area under the Bike Share ICT program.
Carl Alexander with Zagster said an app known as Spin will be needed to ride the scooters, and first time users will get access to instructions for safe riding and operation of the scooters. He said 500 scooters will be deployed in the city’s core area. Another company will also be deploying 500 scooters and a third company plans to provide 150 scooters.
The scooters will be active from sunrise to around 9 p.m. and they should be ridden on the streets, not on the sidewalks. Alexander said when riders have finished their trip, they should leave scooters close to the curb and avoid leaving them in pedestrian walkways or at intersections. People who rent scooters must be at least 18 years old and only one person can ride on a scooter at a time.
Wichita police lieutenant Stephen Patton said officers will be watching for violations and anyone who is found to be a hazard can face a fine of $500 and up to six months of jail time for each offense. He is urging drivers to be aware that scooters will be on the streets in the downtown area, and they should treat scooter riders the same as a bicyclist.
Riders are also encouraged to wear a helmet, and helmets will be available for purchase through the Spin app.
