A north metro Atlanta city is joining others around the area in closing the door on the possibility of allowing e-scooters in its jurisdiction.
Woodstock City Council members have expressed opposition to allowing the dockless electronic scooters that have exploded in popularity in Atlanta.
City leaders weighed in on the subject at its April 8 meeting after hearing a presentation about the topic, including what other cities are doing in regulating or banning them and statistics about safety.
Woodstock staff members will draft an ordinance imposing a ban to be considered by City Council members at an upcoming meeting.
READ | How safe is that e-scooter? Atlanta hospitals asked to tally injuries
If approved, Woodstock would join the city of Marietta in banning the presence and use of e-scooters in its jurisdiction. Roswell is also considering whether to enact its own ban of the devices.
Councilman Colin Ake, who works in Atlanta, said he believed the scooters are a “nuisance because they are all over the place.” He also said many people ride the scooters without helmets.
“It’s leading to injuries and deaths, including people from Woodstock,” he said.
A Woodstock man, Chris Conti, died in March in an accident involving an e-scooter in San Diego. Conti served as the city's parks and recreation advisory board chairman.
Councilman David Potts said he recently visited Atlanta, where he said the scooters were “littering the sidewalks.” He also said he didn’t like that there were no docking stations for the scooters.
“I just don’t see why they are necessary in Woodstock,” he said. “I’d rather not see them.”
About the Author
