The results of the West Hollywood long-awaited Micromobility Survey are finally in, and they indicate a slight majority wants to keep the polarizing program that put Bird and Lime scooters on city streets.
The survey will help inform City Council when they meet Monday night to decide whether to extend the pilot program or allow it to expire this month.
Toole Design’s survey focused on the public’s opinion on a permanent Dockless Shared Micromobility Program. The program, initially launched as a pilot on July 1, 2021, involves e-scooters and e-bikes and aims to provide environmentally sustainable transportation options.
The survey was conducted in two rounds, one open to the general public and one from a randomized sample of verified West Hollywood residents. The survey met the necessary criteria for statistical validity with sample sizes of 516 and 537 for the two rounds, respectively.
The survey found a slightly higher percentage of residents supporting the program (39%) than those opposing it (36%), with a significant portion being neutral (25%). Among non-residents, there was strong support (74%). Major reasons for support among residents included reduced traffic, improved access to destinations, and positive environmental impact. On the other hand, those opposing cited improper parking, a desire to remove these devices from the road, and concerns about speed and collisions as their main reasons.
Additional analyses showed that:
– Younger residents were more supportive than older ones.
– Residents who had used shared micromobility were more likely to support the program.
– Homeowners were slightly more likely to oppose the program compared to renters.
– People with higher incomes were more likely to support the program.
Nearly half (48%) of the residents who opposed the program would continue to do so even if their concerns were addressed, while 21% would turn supportive.
People’s reasons for supporting the program often included making it easier and faster to reach destinations and reducing carbon emissions. Those opposed cited concerns like improper parking and potential crash risks.
Suggestions for program improvements were also collected, with the most popular being fees or fines for improper parking (82%). Other popular suggestions included adding more parking areas and technology to alert riders when they are on the sidewalk.
The survey also touched on the experiences of people living with disabilities. Although the survey did not explicitly ask about disability status, some respondents expressed concern about the devices blocking sidewalks, making it difficult for people with disabilities to navigate.
The survey also revealed that most trips on these shared micromobility options replace walking trips (66%), and a significant percentage replace car trips (26%). Despite this, the use of other modes like driving or using rideshare has not shifted significantly.
A noteworthy point is that a majority of residents who have used these shared micromobility options have ridden on the sidewalk (59%), primarily because they felt unsafe riding on the street.
Brandon alluded to a $1 million donation made by Bird & Lime to Planned Parenthood a few weeks ago. I reached out to PP LA’s media director for comment on a story I’m working on. It was Erickson’s voicemail. Still no response. City Attorney Laura Langer was made aware of this, and a formal investigation requested.
Certainly does not appear kosher. What’s really going on here? These folks are not wise enough to junk the poorly planned program and advocate private purchase of scooters for which the owners will presumably take responsibility.
Are the homeless voting?
What survey?? Nobody asked my opinion. Nobody asked anyone in my neighborhood. This is a fake survey sponsored by city council members who are in the pockets of these companies. I would like to know how many people were asked and who the people were that participated.
I am a WeHo resident who uses scooters. I am a 46 year old female. I wear a helmet. I use the road, not the sidewalk. I park in designated areas (up right.)
Scooters are the best way to get around WeHo. They are great for the environment and don’t use up parking spaces. Glad the survey represents my views and not just those of the grumpy folk.
Please try a scooter. They are super fun.
PS: There are bigger problems to focus on, my friends.
Glad to hear you use a helmet and you use the road but many do not. It’s a safety issue which needs to be discussed even if you feel it’s not important. It’s important to other people. All it takes is one pot hole on the road and you might be history. Road and alleys in Weho and LA are horrendous.
Sounds like you need to buy yourself a scooter and stop throwing your money away.
The clown show continues wirh the attendees at the show.
If you don’t fear hitting a scooter doing 15 MPH when you pull out of a blind driveway or garage, then it’s all on you boo. Let’s have a survey on that city hall
Unbelievable the cretins at City Hall think we should decide public policy by surveys, many responses aren’t even from residents. Why do we even bother electing people, shouldn’t every decision just be made by surveys? Why scooter safety is a survey, and other matters are dictated or voted on by the elected Council? This City is getting worse every day.
“Erwin Smith” has a lot to say on this topic 😂
Thanks, Jim. I care about this topic.
He’s a Commander in the Scouting Legion and has green eyes and is often occupied on a dais on certain Mondays starting at 6:00 p.m.!
The majority has spoken and the scooters should stay.
Is this a sick joke from Sepi Shyne, Chelsea Byeers and John Erickson? Who could ever trust any survey from one of the most corrupt cities in California? I’m sure its all pay to play organized by the policial hacks on the city council.
Do you have any proof of this?
Erwin Smith, it seems as though you are overly vocal about the issue, pro scooter and received a survey invitation by mail. That is quite a series of coincidences.
Three percentage point spread is a statistical tie given the margin of error. But 25% are “neutral” meaning they don’t really feel strongly against scooters. Older people like me who regularly walk Santa Monica tend to have more interactions with scooters and have stronger opinions. While I worry about scooters sharing the streets, it is really difficult sharing the sidewalks with them.
I would love to know where the survey was posted for the residents of West Hollywood to weigh in on. I do not know of a single person that had been notified. My issue is not about the use of these scooters and is more about West Hollywood City Council and their staff coming up with a cohesive plan that solves the safety issues for all. The same issues remain since the scooters were introduced and yet every meeting the solution is to kick the can farther down the road and see if anything sticks. Stop the pilot program until… Read more »
“one from a randomized sample of verified West Hollywood residents.”
It wasn’t posted. Survey cards were mailed to residents picked randomly. I know 2 people who got these in the mail and completed the survey online.
Hogwash! I have asked residents on my street if they heard about this survey and nobody knew anything about it.
Junk science. It appears that they took a completely open online survey and blended the results with a formal randomized survey. This exercise is mere window dressing. Will council be hoodwinked by this expensive exercise that by design yielded nothing conclusive? The environmental impact of these programs fails to account for the harvesting, charging, and distribution of the devices, all of which consume fossil fuels. Nothing about the drive to ban rental e-scooters prevents anyone from owning one. They start at $150 on Amazon; far less than the many hundreds of dollars to buy a smartphone and the monthly cell… Read more »
I received an invitation to take the survey via a personalized email. I did not participate in an open online survey.
Hoping by some chance the program is ended, but If this does go through, I hope very much that Mikie’s concerns are addressed and dealt with, satisfying her and all those she represents. Issue is that Weho doesn’t seem to listen to residents and CC does as they so please.