In 2018, the City used a federal grant to hire Alta Planning + Design. Their task was to evaluate the City’s readiness for bike sharing and e-scooters. They aimed to create a plan for a shared micromobility program. They also drafted a study to guide the City’s policy and infrastructure for this program. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the study was paused and not presented to the Council.
Despite this, the City staff is working on updating city laws to allow personal micromobility devices. Many of these are currently not allowed. Changing these laws is important for preparing the City for a future micromobility program. This aligns with the Council’s 2036 Vision for Transportation, which aims to make Asheville easy to live in without a car.
Currently, the staff has drafted recommendations for law updates to allow personal micromobility devices. However, micromobility companies are still not allowed to operate in the City. The staff is gathering feedback before presenting the proposed law changes to the Council in Spring 2024.