City officials want to introduce rideshare electric bicycles and scooters to the streets of Kingston. But first, the Common Council will need to legalize the use such “micro-mobility” devices citywide. The council’s Laws and Rules Committee is expected to discuss the proposed legislation when it convenes on this evening.

Plans call for the city to seek an outside vendor to provide a network of publicly shared e-bikes and scooters. The services typically operate via an app that allows users to pay a fee to activate the bike. Some services require users to travel from one charging station to another. Others allow riders to simply leave the vehicles on the street for use by the next customer.

In a letter to the Common Council, Sustainability Coordinator Julie Noble wrote that the city’s Conservation Advisory Council had been working on the initiative since last summer. The introduction of an electric-powered micro-transportation system, wrote Noble, was in line with the city’s 10-year climate action plan which aims to reduce Kingston’s reliance on fossil fuels. One strategy identified in the plan is the expansion of public transportation options to make it easier for people to get around the city without relying on a personal vehicle.

In particular, Noble wrote, the electric rideshare service could provide “first mile/last mile” connections to other public transit systems between, for example, a person's home and the Trailways bus terminal on Washington Avenue. In his state of the city speech last week, Mayor Steve Noble expressed support for the proposal and said he expects the rideshare program to roll out sometime this year.

But first, Julie Noble wrote, the council would need to pass legislation allowing for the electric vehicles’ operation in public parks, lots and pathways. Currently use of e-bikes and scooters is restricted to city streets. State lawmakers have left the decision on whether to allow off-street use of the vehicles to individual municipalities. In her letter, Noble noted that despite the prohibition, electric scooters and bikes are already in common use across the city. Noble added that passing an ordinance specifically authorizing the vehicles would open the door to establishing rules regulating their use distinct from those for non-motorized bicycles. Noble wrote that once the ordinance is in place, the city could begin seeking a vendor to install the rideshare network.

“We believe that these bike share services will encourage the use of alternate modes of transportation, alleviate vehicle traffic, improve the health and wellness of the citizens, and be a popular activity for tourism and therefore economic growth,” wrote Noble.