EDUCATION

Colleges regulate use of electric scooters on campuses

Beatriz Alvarado
Corpus Christi

Use of the city's new electric scooters is being regulated at area campuses.  

The scooters were introduced to Corpus Christi roads more than a month ago, but questions remain on how they're regulated and what the consequences are in the event of a wreck.

The Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone No. 3 will present a first reading of regulations to City Council on Jan. 8. 

More:City of Corpus Christi aims to regulate electric scooters

In the meantime, Del Mar College and Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi have shared a few guidelines for their use. 

Currently, Bird and Blue Duck scooters are operating in Corpus Christi. Bird has 150 scooters, and Blue Duck operates 100.

Blue Duck scooters are now available for use in downtown Corpus Christi.

DEL MAR COLLEGE

The citywide drop-offs caused a bit of confusion at Del Mar, said college spokeswoman Claudia Jackson. 

Several scooters were dropped off on East Campus without the college being informed, Jackson said. They were "moved to a secure location" until the company could pick them up, she said. 

She brought up two main issues with the scooters: 

  • Safety and security issues: Motorized vehicles are only allowed on designated streets and in parking lots on campus. Motorized scooters on the east campus would further complicate pedestrian traffic already limited by a major construction project that restricts sidewalk access.
  • Commercial vendor issues: The college has a formal process for selecting commercial vendors authorized to provide goods and services on campus. This process involves allowing all potential vendors to present bid proposals for those services and the college executing a contract with the successful bidder.
Blue Duck scooters, now available in downtown Corpus Christi, require users to download an app.

A&M-CORPUS CHRISTI

Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi is in the process of revising its safety guidelines to include motorized transportation devices, said Jaclyn Mahlmann, who is the interim executive vice president for finance and administration. 

Currently, the scooters fall under guidelines established in 2013 and 2016 for the use of non-motorized transportation devices, like bikes, skateboards, etc.

The following requirements apply to such devices:

  • The sidewalk/walking path is a pedestrian right of way.
  • Operators of all devices must yield to pedestrians when on or crossing a sidewalk or walking a path.
  • Non-motorized transportation devices may not be used inside any building, including parking garages.
  • Non-motorized device use is prohibited in certain areas of campus. The specific locations are: Hector P. Garcia Plaza, the walkway oriented north to south from the University Center through Lee Plaza (to include Lee Plaza), to the end of the walkway at Corpus Christi Hall (“the spine”); the University Service Center, the covered sidewalks at the Center for the Arts and the upper walkway directly adjoining the front of the Islander Dining Hall.
  • While traversing these areas, operators must dismount and carry their device.
  • The use of non-motorized transportation devices in an unsafe manner and/or trick riding is prohibited. This includes, but not limited to, riding on stairs, walls, rails, benches and other structures, as well as operating the device at an unsafe speed.
  • Operators of all non-motorized transportation devices do so at their own risk and liability.

Beatriz Alvarado (@CallerBetty) | Twitter

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