Supervisor Peskin demands stricter scooter regulations to protect San Francisco sidewalks

The San Francisco County government meeting held on July 4, 2025, focused on the increasing safety concerns surrounding electric scooters, particularly regarding their use on sidewalks. Supervisor Aaron Peskin highlighted a troubling rise in fatalities and injuries linked to scooter incidents, emphasizing the need for stricter regulations to protect pedestrians, especially vulnerable populations such as the disabled and elderly.

Peskin introduced a resolution urging the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) to implement three key measures: restrict the deployment of scooters to those equipped with anti-sidewalk riding technology, enhance enforcement efforts against improper riding, and require scooter companies to pass on fines to riders to encourage responsible behavior. He criticized the current lack of enforcement and the slow adoption of safety technology by the three permitted scooter companies—BIRD, Lime, and Spin—despite their fleets exceeding 5,000 devices.

During the meeting, SFMTA Director Kate Torn acknowledged the agency's shared concerns and provided an overview of the scooter share program's progress. She reported a significant reduction in complaints since the implementation of the permit program but admitted that issues such as sidewalk riding and double riding persist. Torn outlined the agency's ongoing efforts to improve safety, including the introduction of sidewalk detection technology and enhanced public education campaigns.

The discussion also touched on the enforcement statistics, revealing that the SFMTA had issued nearly 13,000 citations and received over 9,000 complaints related to scooter use. Torn noted that while the number of complaints has decreased relative to the total number of trips, the agency recognizes the need for continued improvements in safety measures and enforcement.

The meeting concluded with a call for more proactive measures to address the ongoing challenges posed by electric scooters in San Francisco. Supervisor Peskin emphasized the importance of taking decisive action to ensure public safety and maintain the integrity of the city’s transportation network. The resolution will be further discussed and potentially amended in future meetings, as the SFMTA continues to evaluate the effectiveness of its current policies and enforcement strategies.