Photo: Contributed
The City of Kelowna has inked its first agreement under a new bike share permit program adopted earlier this spring.
Active transportation co-ordinator Matt Worona says the city has issued a permit to San Francisco-based Spin. The company provides e-scooter rentals.
According to its website, Spin operates in 32 cities and at seven college campuses across the United States. Kelowna will be its first international market.
Spin boasts more than one million rides since launching its “dockless mobility system” in 2016.
It began as a bike share company before introducing e-scooters early last year.
Worona says Spin will use a similar app-style unlocking system as DropBike a year ago.
However, unlike bikes and e-bikes, there are heavy restrictions as to where e-scooters are allowed to operate.
“The e-scooter vehicle type is not defined in the Motor Vehicle Act currently. There will be restrictions to keep them on a corridor,” said Worona.
“That corridor is the Rail Trail with Angel Way, the Waterfront Walkway to Abbott and all the way to the hospital. It will connect the hospital, downtown, Landmark and both UBCO and the airport.”
While he’s unsure when Spin will be ready to roll in Kelowna, Worona says such companies typically move quickly. He adds this is the first of several expected announcements.
Worona says five companies submitted formal permit applications after the city officially adopted its new permit program in early May.
He expects to announce more permits next week.
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