Micromobility Equity in Los Angeles

Abstract

In 2019, the Los Angeles Department of Transportation’s micromobility program brought together the agency, scooter operators, and other stakeholders to create a holistic regulatory framework that established operational requirements and expectations to promote the safe and effective use of micromobility scooters, primarily dockless e-scooters and e-bikes. While the program has effectively expanded the usage of micromobility and mitigated externalities associated with dockless vehicle programs, it has been less effective at ensuring access, particularly in underserved neighborhoods such as the Equity-Focused Mobility Development Districts. In a mixed-methods approach, we combine micromobility data from LADOT, interviews with private operators and community-based organizations, and case studies of micromobility equity programs in other U.S. cities to inform our three policy recommendations for LADOT. The three key policy levers are a reduction in the number of operators allowed within the program, strengthened outreach requirements with enforcement from LADOT, and a modification to the penalty schedule that does not deter deployment in the San Fernando Valley. These policies would create more favorable market conditions for increasing operator deployment in the equity zones while advancing LADOT’s goal of improving access to shared mobility.

About the Project

This report partially fulfills the requirements for the Master in Public Policy degree in the Department of Public Policy at the University of California, Los Angeles.