Wenatchee Could Soon See Electric Scooter Program

The Wenatchee City Council will decide next Thursday whether to allow the scooter company Bird to set up a network of pay-as-you-go electric scooters within parts of the city.

The lease would be for one year and either side can terminate the agreement with 30 day's notice.

Bird has already met with representatives from the Wenatchee Police Department. Public Works Director Rob Jammerman said during a Thursday workshop that the police department was supportive of the idea after questions on theft, damage and abandoned scooters were answered.

"You have to be 18 years old and have a valid driver's license to rent the scooter." said Jammerman, "Each scooter has GPS technology that can what we call 'geofence' areas where a scooter can or can't be operated."

If a scooter is taken outside of an approved zone, it will slow down to roughly one mile per hour while also blaring an alarm.

Linda Haglund with the Wenatchee Downtown Association says it will ultimately be up to the city council to decide whether or not the scooters will enhance the community.

"We don't have really wide sidewalks." Haglund said, "We don't have bike lanes downtown. We have angled parking. So the discussion will be ongoing on where you park."

Users will have to download an app and then can scan a scooter to unlock it for $1. A per minute fee is then charged, with the average ride costing around $5.

The City of Wenatchee, which is not being asked to pay anything, would receive a nickel per trip.