Timeline
SUMMARY
Below is a brief outline of the main events in the history of our advocacy and the scooter rental industry in San Diego.
2015
DecoBike docked pedal bike scheme starts.
Feb 2018
Bird motorized scooters for rent appear on sidewalks in San Diego.
Feb 2018 - June 2019
City Refuses to enforce regulations prohibiting encroachment of sidewalks and running unpermitted business from sidewalks.
March 2018
Bird is reported to have initiated their Save Our Sidewalks pledge of $1 per scooter to be donated to each city in which they operate to build more bike lanes. A public records request later reveals no donated money was received by the City of San Diego.
June 2018
Safe Walkways group formed on Facebook.
Summer/Fall 2018
CM Bry & Gomez working group works on a new SMD ordinance.
2018 & 2019
Safe Walkways testimony to numerous meetings of Council.
September 2018
Assembly Member Todd Gloria and D3 Council Member Chris Ward attend and promote Bird's announcement of their Community Program to address safety issues affecting pedestrians. The public was told that this would enable the reporting of dangerous driving such as driving on sidewalks, but it didn't.
September 19 2018
Scooter companies make presentations to Public Safety & Livable Neighborhoods committee.
Fall 2018
Mayor Faulconer announces his dept. will develop the SMD ordinance, replacing CMs Bry and Gomez. Consideration of the proposals is transferred from Public Safety & Livable Neighborhoods committee to the Active Transportation & Infrastructure committee.
2019
DecoBike Scheme ends
January 2019
Safe Walkways publishes paper on Carbon Footprint Impact of Scooter rental industry in SD.
January 19 2019
Disability Rights California class-action lawsuit against City and Scooter companies filed.
February 6 2019
Safe Walkways presentation to Public Safety & Livable Neighborhoods committee on ticketing illegally parked scooters and geofencing needed for streets that are illegal for motorized scooters.
April 2019
Mission Beach Town Council proposes City ban scooters from boardwalk. MB residents hold protest on boardwalk in support.
April 2019
California Assembly Member Todd Gloria writes letter to City with recommendations for SMD ordinance.
April 23 2019
City Council considers Mayor Faulconer's proposed ordinance to regulate Shared Mobility Device companies in San Diego. This will establish a permitting scheme, require indemnification by the companies against City liability and require data to be provided to the City. It also legitimizes the use of sidewalks for staging and parking outside of downtown.
May 14 2019
Second reading by Council of Mayor's proposed ordinance governing SMD companies.
June 2019
County of SD Grand Jury report published.
June 2019
City of SD SMD ordinance starts.
August thru January inc 2019
1st. 6mo permit period starts. 22,000 scooters requested and allocated.
August thru January inc 2019
City impounds thousands of scooters during Comic-con
October 2019
City fines for blocking street sweeping start.
December 2019
City of SD submits response to CGJ report.
December 2019
City passes ordinance to ban motorized vehicles on MB boardwalk.
December 2019
Citizens meet with Mayor's staff to discuss update to SMD ordinance. No update is proposed to Council. No update is made.
January 21 2020
DRC class-action lawsuit - scooter companies removed.
February thru July inc 2020
2nd 6mo permit period starts. Scooters requested and allocated = 11,500.
February 2020
Sweep 5-year contract starts: $540,000/yr for 2 teams 14h / day 7 days / week
February 2020
City stops fines for blocking street sweeping.
March 2020
COVID restrictions imposed on public gatherings. Hospitality businesses close.
April 2020
June, July, August 2020
July 2020
3rd 6mo permit period starts. Scooters requested and allocated = 6,500.
September 2020
November 3, 2020
Elections for Mayor and Council held. Todd Gloria elected Mayor.
December 2020
City ceases to produce Weekly Scooter Metric report.
December 10, 2020
Todd Gloria takes office as Mayor of San Diego, replacing Kevin Faulconer.
January 20, 2021
Members of Council take office.
January 2021
As the ordinance governing SMD companies has not been updated, as the public was promised in 2019, Safe Walkways publishes its own proposed ordinance update.
February thru July inc 2021
4th 6mo permit period starts. Scooters requested and allocated = 11,500.
May 2021
Director Muto presents RFP and MC change proposals to AT&I committee for approval. Not approved. Committee requests proposals to get scooters off sidewalks and account for the full cost of the SMD industry on the City.
February thru August inc 2021
City contractor Sweep impounds one scooter per day on average.
August thru January inc 2021
5th 6mo permit period starts. Scooters requested and allocated = 14,500.
September 2021
City fines for blocking street sweeping re-start.
September 2021
Safe Walkways presents GET SCOOTERS OFF WALKWAYS petition to Mayor.
September 2021
Sweep impounds 15 scooters.
November 10, 2021.
City RFP for SMD service published
November 2021
Safe Walkways Presents RFP Action Requests to Council, Mayor and Director of S&M dept.
February thru July inc 2022
6th 6mo permit period starts. Scooters requested and allocated = unknown.
January 21, 2022:
Deadline for RFP proposals.
July 31, 2022
End of 6th permitting period. Possible start of RFP contracts with selected SMD companies.