As Seattleites embrace shared e-bikes and e-scooters, or shared micromobility, it’s clear that town’s transportation infrastructure has not stored tempo. We’ve all skilled it — whether or not we noticed somebody driving a scooter down a busy sidewalk or had our path blocked by a parked bike in a curb ramp.
Shared micromobility can work in Seattle. And there’s a answer that’s each low-cost and efficient: increasing micromobility parking. The Seattle Metropolis Council rejected a funds proposal on Friday that may have prioritized funding for expanded e-bike and e-scooter parking, however members included an announcement of legislative intent asking for a report on corrals. Right here’s why that is the best way ahead.
Shared e-bike and e-scooter packages have turn out to be integral to how Seattle strikes. In 2025, Seattleites have taken greater than 9 million rides, in keeping with the Seattle Division of Transportation’s Shared Mobility Program. These rides have changed tens of millions of automotive journeys, connecting individuals to their jobs, colleges, transit, espresso dates and a lot extra. Affordability packages like Lime Entry prolong these advantages to low-income riders.
These packages cut back CO2 emissions, strengthen town’s transportation community, relieve congestion and convey life to downtown streets. Nevertheless, whereas micromobility is booming, our infrastructure has been sluggish to catch up.
When cities around the globe present sufficient infrastructure — bike lanes — for 2 wheels, ridership will increase whereas crashes and sidewalk conflicts lower, according to a study of the connection between scooter riders, visitors and infrastructure. Now, we want Seattle to satisfy the second.
Individuals with disabilities should have the ability to navigate sidewalks, curbs and transit connections with out obstruction. Putting in parking “corrals” on the street as an alternative of on sidewalks preserves accessibility. These corrals must be handled as a part of town’s transportation infrastructure, not as a pilot or an afterthought.
Micromobility itself can construct inclusion, offering freedom for individuals who can not or don’t drive. However this shouldn’t include the value of blocked and inaccessible sidewalks. A really accessible transportation system permits individuals of all talents to achieve locations safely.
Seattle streets are starting to hold extra individuals than ever. With main occasions like FIFA 2026 on the horizon, dependable micromobility parking can be important.
A metropolis the place individuals can simply get round with no automotive is a metropolis that works higher for each companies and residents. Analysis in cities resembling Washington, D.C., and San Francisco has discovered that micromobility investments are linked to elevated retail exercise and improved entry to employment hubs.
For Seattle, embracing micromobility and investing in the correct infrastructure is essential to a vibrant, thriving downtown.
Recognizing the significance of increasing micromobility parking can’t be the endpoint. Seattle should construct parking corrals at a a lot bigger scale throughout main ridership zones and use curb house strategically for entry and security.
We name on the Metropolis Council to:
● Direct SDOT to speed up funding in a parking corral system the place, in busy areas round city, shared bikes and scooters have to be parked in designated zones positioned on the road at any time when bodily attainable. In much less busy areas, bikes and scooters wouldn’t be required to be parked in corrals, however have to be parked correctly to keep away from blocking sidewalks or curb ramps.
● Direct SDOT to create a citywide micromobility parking plan that displays actual ridership ranges and demand patterns, spend bike and scooter share charges to construct it, and create options like sidewalk driving monitoring know-how and incentives to repark bikes/scooters correctly.
Shared micromobility has already changed tens of millions of automotive journeys and offered tens of tens of millions of fresh, secure and environment friendly rides. The know-how works. The demand is evident. Seattle ought to make investments boldly to construct the infrastructure for this indispensable transportation choice that makes our streets and sidewalks secure and accessible for everybody.
