By Sarah Gotfredsen

The Bronx is New York City’s brand-new hub for electric scooters. In late August, the three e-scooter operators Bird, Lime and Veo scattered 3,000 e-scooters around Pelham Parkway in the East Bronx. But residents demand safer roads and protected bike lanes before incorporating the e-scooters into their daily commute.

The shared e-scooter pilot program is New York’s biggest attempt to catch up with other major cities’ investment in micromobility. San Francisco and Santa Monica have both embraced shared e-scooters for years, providing residents with a low-cost and environmentally friendly alternative mode of transportation.

Phase 1 of the shared e-scooter pilot program was launched in the East Bronx late-August. Phase 2 is planned to begin in 2022.

But there’s a reason why two-wheeled riders aren’t racing down New York City streets just yet. Unlike spacious cities such as San Francisco, New York City’s road. are traffic dense and with dangerous intersections, sparking anxiety for many prospective e-scooter riders.

“I think it’s a great way to get around the city,” said Franklin Paulus, a recent graduate of Lehman college and long-time resident of Pelham Parkway. “But the Bronx is too congested. It worked better when I lived in Florida where it’s more spacious.”

Like Paulus, many Bronx residents are intrigued by the e-scooters but choose not to partake until proper infrastructure is in place: “I’ve taken the bus all my life so it’s just the easiest for me,” said Jennifer Robles, 28, a local deli cashier, and Pelham Parkway resident. “People and cars are all over the place here. Right now, I don’t feel safe taking the e-scooters.”

The fight for safer roads and protected bike lanes in the Bronx has been ongoing for years, progressing at a snail’s pace. But according to Luke Szabados, chairman for Bronx Transportation Alternative, the e-scooter pilot program could be the catalyst that kick-starts the process.

“When we invest in micromobility options, it creates an induced demand,” Szabados said. “So, when we put 3,000 scooters on the road and people use them, it will create a demand for more bike lanes.”

But advocates think the city should improve the roads before e-scooter ridership increases.