ATLANTA — Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has ordered a citywide electric scooter ban during the overnight hours.
The ban applies to electric scooters and e-Bikes between 9 p.m. and 4 a.m. It took effect Aug. 9.
The city has grappled with a series of high-profile scooter deaths, prompting the mayor to implement the ban. Officials are also studying additional ways they can improve the safety of streets for scooter riders.
“It is evident that immediate action is necessary to keep Atlanta’s residents and visitors safe,” said Bottoms said in a news release. “Sadly, we have seen a pattern in the recent and tragic fatalities involving scooters – they all occurred after sunset. Having a variety of mobility options is critical to any city, but safety must be our top priority. This nighttime ban, while we continue to develop further long-term measures, will ensure the safest street conditions for scooter riders, motorists, cyclists, those in wheelchairs and pedestrians.”
The Department of City Planning has informed electric scooter and E-Bike companies operating in Atlanta of the change in policy and requested that they disable devices during the No Ride Zone.
“As a major city, we believe there is potential in engineering the smart integration of this popular mode of transportation,” said Department of City Planning Commissioner Tim Keane. “The devices go a long way in providing last-mile connectivity and convenience to residents, students, businesses and visitors. But it is vital that we pause and assess how we move forward in a responsible way, with public safety always being the top priority.”
Other cities in the area, such as Smyrna, have banned electric scooters from their streets.