Title
Recommendation to Accept an Update on the April 2, 2018 and May 1, 2018 Referrals from Council Member Matarrese to Consider Banning Motorized Vehicles, Including Robotic Commercial Vehicles, from Sidewalks and Commercial Drone Aircraft Used for Deliveries; and Electric Scooters. (Public Works 310)
Body
To: Members of the Transportation Commission
From: Liam Garland, Public Works Director
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On April 2, 2018 and May 1, 2018 the City Council directed staff to consider 1) banning commercial delivery vehicles, including robotic delivery, 2) banning commercial drone aircraft used for deliveries, and 3) banning electric (powered) scooters. Each one of these referral items is distinct in the benefits and challenges to the City's public right-of-way and is addressed separately in the discussion that follows. Accordingly, staff's recommendation as to each of these issues is likewise distinct. With each recommendation, staff has provided an alternative, which would allow the City Council to adopt a ban.
Given the evolving nature of these technologies, their potential contribution to reductions in green-house gases and Federal preemption issues, staff recommends that the City Council a) take no action at this time to ban robotic delivery vehicles, b) take no action at this time to ban drone deliveries, and c) take no action at this time to ban shared electric scooters and continue to work with shared electric scooter companies to discourage deployment and parking of scooters in Alameda until such time that staff is able to return to Council within one year with a recommended shared electric scooter permit program.
BACKGROUND
Private companies are developing and implementing new technologies to more efficiently move people and goods. In particular, companies are developing a variety of methods to tackle the "last mile" problem of transport and delivery. The last mile of delivery is a major logistical challenge for businesses and particularl...
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