KNOXVILLE, Tenn — City Council is seeking the public's input tonight in a meeting about scooters around downtown Knoxville.
Scooters have been around for more than two years now. You can ride them mainly on downtown streets, but not on sidewalks or greenways.
You either love them or hate them. Scooters are an easy mode of transportation, but a headache on the sidewalks.
After hitting the streets of Downtown Knoxville in 2019, scooters became a fan favorite of people wanting quick transportation, but they've become a nuisance for some pedestrians.
"People enjoy riding on them, they're a fun thing," policy and innovation business manager Carter Hall said. "We heard from a decent amount of folks who said they can be a pain sometimes, block sidewalks or I feel unsafe when people are riding on the sidewalks."
Hall, along with others, has been working since June to gather opinions and research data. The goal? To take away headaches caused by scooters.
"We are looking at some bigger changes, things other cities have done," he said.
One idea includes designated parking areas, instead of scooters left cluttering sidewalks.
"Let's get in, make sure we can fix those, cut down on the amount of things causing headaches," Hall said.
Visit Knoxville and the city conducted a survey about scooters. 66% of those surveyed said they hopped on the two wheels for entertainment, while 15% relied on them to get to work or school.
"We're always using them to find ways for people to use their cars less, help cut down on carbon emissions and help us meet sustainability goals," Hall said.
Hall believes there could be a solution before December which includes a solid plan that considers everyone's opinions.