Dockless Mobility

The City of Alexandria launched a permanent program to allow private companies to operate shared mobility devices (such as dockless bicycles and scooters available for rent) in the City under a permanent annual program.
Page updated on May 16, 2022 at 3:39 PM

What's New

In November 2021, the City Council approved a permanent Dockless Mobility program. Docket materials from the meeting can be found here. City Code now states that the City Manager can set an overall cap on the number of scooters and e-bikes that can be permitted to companies through the micromobility program. The cap has been set at 1,200 scooters and 800 e-bikes. This cap on devices can be modified in the future as needed. To allow for staff time to coordinate the permanent program, the Phase 2 Pilot was extended to spring 2022. The four companies (Lime, Bird, Link, and Helbiz) that operated in the City in the Phase 2 Pilot in 2021 applied for permits to operate scooters in the permanent program. Three of the companies (Lime, Bird, and Helbiz) also applied for permits to operate e-bikes. Lime was approved to operate 250 scooters and 50 e-bikes, Bird was approved to operate 500 scooters and 50 e-bikes, and Link was approved to operate 450 scooters, and Helbiz was approved to operate 100 e-bikes. The permit term will be for one year, beginning April 2022.

Ad Hoc Scooter Task Force

In July 2021, staff shared a written update to City Council on the status of the Phase II Pilot Program, including input from the community collected through focus groups, the Ad Hoc Scooter Task Force, and meetings with key stakeholder boards, commissions, etc. The written update to Council can be found here. More information about the Task Force can be found here .

Cover of the Alexandria Dockless Mobility Evaluation (includes photos of people riding scooters)

Phase II Pilot Program

During the 2019 Phase I Dockless Pilot Program, the City worked through challenges and made some adjustments to better manage the program. From January to December 2019, there were around 286,000 scooter trips made in Alexandria. However, issues such as improper parking, unsafe riding, and reporting are challenges that require additional regulation and oversight. In order for the City to continue to (and more strictly) regulate scooter companies and riders, a Phase II Pilot Program with additional recommendations was approved and completed. Key changes from the first pilot included: 

  • More equitable distribution of scooters across the City
  • A ban on riding scooters on any sidewalk in the City
  • Establishment of an Ad-Hoc Scooter Task-Force
  • Stricter requirements of scooter companies including data sharing requirements and increased permit fees
  • Installation of additional parking corrals

Materials from the City Council meeting that provide more details on the Staff-proposed changes can be viewed here. The Dockless Mobility Pilot Evaluation Report summarizes key findings and draft recommendations from the 2019 Pilot findings and data.

The purpose of the Phase II Pilot was to evaluate changes made from Phase I, engage with the community, determine whether the City should have a permanent program, and identify the most appropriate permitting or procurement process for such a program. 

City Council approved a resolution to extend the Phase II Pilot through 2021 to allow for more outreach and community engagement. The 2020 MOU was amended to authorize the extension of the pilot and required operators to meet the requirements of the terms of the 2020 MOU in 2021. 

Permits for operation in 2021 were issued to Lime, Bird, Helbiz, and Link. The permitting process for 2022 is underway. All operators are required to sign the 2020 Memorandum of Understanding, which described the City's requirements and expectations.

Phase I Pilot Program

Information about the Phase I Pilot Program can be found here. The Dockless Mobility Pilot Evaluation Report summarizes key findings and draft recommendations from the 2019 Pilot findings and data.

Providing Feedback and Asking Questions

If you have a question about the permanent dockless mobility program, please submit your comment via Alex311 (keyword: scooters), and staff will respond to you within the designated timeframe. If you need to provide immediate feedback on an improperly parked scooter, please see Question #4 in the FAQs below.  

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Which companies are allowed to operate in Alexandria?

Lime, Bird, Helbiz, and Link are currently permitted to operate in Alexandria. 

Where can I ride a scooter or e-bike?

Scooter and e-bike riding is not permitted on sidewalks per City Code, but is allowed on streets, in bike lanes, and certain trails. Riders must follow all applicable traffic laws and should always ride safely, considerately.

Who is in charge of the shared mobility devices?

Individual private companies operate and maintain the shared mobility devices.

How do I report bikes or scooters that are left on my property or in another inappropriate location?

You should report the device to the company providing the service with the location of the device, why you are reporting it, and (if possible) the device ID number. Contact information for each company is provided on the devices, and below. 

2021 Operators

Operators no longer permitted in Alexandria

Where should e-bikes or scooters be parked?

Devices should be parked in a way that does not impede pedestrian or ADA access. Do not park on private property or anywhere that cannot be accessed by other users. Additionally, devices should not block access to sidewalks, ramps, entrances to buildings, fire hydrants, bus stops, parked cars, travel lanes, and driveways.

Follow these videos on how to appropriately park scooters or e-bikes:

What do I do if a bike or scooter is parked inappropriately? 

If they are parked on your private property, or somewhere that impedes access, you may move the device to a more appropriate location yourself, if possible, or reach out to the company directly and request that they remove the device.

Is dockless bikeshare part of Capital Bikeshare?

No. Capital Bikeshare is jointly owned and operated by the City of Alexandria, District of Columbia, Arlington County, the Montgomery County, Fairfax County and Prince George's County. These shared mobility devices are not affiliated with Capital Bikeshare.

How do I sign up to use a shared mobility device?

Visit the website/mobile app of the company. You will need a separate account from Capital Bikeshare as there is no affiliation between the two.

How many devices can each company deploy?

Each company can deploy up to 200 devices. They can request additional devices based on criteria outlined in the 2020 Memorandum of Understanding, at the discretion of the City Manager. 

Equity and Access

Bird, Lime, Spin, and Razor provide low cost plans for riders who qualify:

Bird and Lime also provide non-smartphone access (SMS or call to unlock devices) and non-credit card payment options.