Scooter flock culls Uptown bicycle herds

aShortChronicle has previously told readers about the Dockless Bike Share phenomenon that over ran Uptown Charlotte earlier this year. Davidson College also started a similar program here in town targeted towards College students.  We also told you about the electric scooters which hit the streets of Uptown a few months later. What we didn't expect was how the popularity of the scooters would significantly impact the use and availability of the bicycles.

When the dockless bike shares hit the streets there were roughly 2000 bicycles scattered all over Uptown from four different vendors.  The bicycles were ubiquitous. They blocked sidewalks, were left all over the place, and generally where as much nuisance as useful form of transportation.

Then came the scooters.

What has been surprising is not only the popularity of the scooters, but how quickly it has culled the herds of bikeshare units.

After just about four months in the market and two months after the scooters hit the streets, Ofo - the last of the bikeshare vendors to enter the Charlotte market - has left.  The below email was sent out in late July to subscribers.

However, reducing the number of vendors isn't the only impact to the bicycle operations.  The remaining bikeshare companies, while still operating, appear to have also cut back the number of units in Uptown.  Interestingly, this includes LimeBike which operates both bicycles and scooters.  Take a look at the below from LikeBike's app.  Most of the units are now scooters.

Anecdotally, the use of the scooters seems to far surpass what the bicycles ever achieved.  For Uptown and South End residents they have become a viable commuting alternative with office workers seen regularly using them in the AM on their way to work.

But one has to wonder if their own popularity will eventually lead to the demise of the rentable scooters as well?

aShortChronicle recently saw a privately owned electric scooter locked to a rack.  Will the next trend among center city residents be buying their own scooters rather than renting them?