Shared scooters have been a flop, now more than halved. But some are celebrating the decline in incidents of littering on streets and sidewalks. The municipal service, outsourced and launched two years ago—after a trial period—is being scaled back: only one rental company remains, and the number of mini electric vehicles has dropped from an initial 240 to about a hundred during the summer months, much less in the fall and winter. "It's better," commented the residents of Quartu. "Before, there were too many and they created chaos."
The data
The actual tender process began two years ago, after a twenty-four-month trial period. Two companies were initially involved, while one was launched last year: Dott, which operates with a fleet of 60 to 120 scooters, depending on the season. The service's final year results confirm its use for short distances, especially along the coast: the average distance traveled is less than 2 kilometers, the average duration of each ride is 10 minutes, and the routes are concentrated primarily along the Poetto seafront, and in the Margine Rosso and Su Forti areas.
Residents, however, don't seem displeased. "Thankfully, we couldn't take it anymore," says Giuliana Serra. "In many areas, the sidewalks were impassable; they were being trashed everywhere." And many agree. "Finally, some order in the streets. At first, the situation was so chaotic that you couldn't walk on some sidewalks, causing inconvenience upon inconvenience, especially for the disabled and the elderly," comments Sandro Salis.
The future
Meanwhile, the Municipality is developing a plan to improve the service and integrate it with bike sharing and public transportation. "The administration continues to believe in a strategic service that meets the modern needs of the community, such as shared scooters, especially following the introduction of new safety measures—helmets, license plates, and insurance—which have recently slowed down ridership somewhat, but which are essential," says Mobility Councilor Romina Mura. "In Quartu, they are used primarily for short trips, and this leads us to believe that the idea of pedestrianizing certain portions of the city center could also become a driver for the development of this type of mobility, as well as bike sharing. Both services," Mura concludes, "can coexist well with local public transportation, which—as demonstrated by the success of the Quartu-Geremeas line—is highly appreciated, even by young people."
The projects
Stefano Busonera, president of the Mobility Commission, agrees: "Scooters are certainly useful when used for short distances and in suitable settings, such as bike paths," he says. "They need to be further integrated into the city's mobility network, and we must continue to raise awareness of their responsible use among young people."
