Beginning Friday, August 31, the UGA Police Department will begin looking out for anyone riding a scooter on a sidewalk or violating traffic codes.
In an email to faculty, staff, and students, university officials cite students’ and drivers’ safety as their concern.
“For the University of Georgia, the primary concern with increased scooter traffic is safety—safety for those riding the scooters and for bystanders who might be hit by them or whose path might be impeded by an abandoned scooter,” the email states.
The increase in the number of scooters around Athens comes just days after Bird electric scooter company delivered scooters to the area. Bird is a company that allows scooter riders to rent a scooter through an app on users’ phones. While the company’s website emphasizes safety and following cities’ laws, video from the university shows that some riders are not adhering to proper traffic and safety laws.
Ultimately, the university encourages those who use Bird scooters to simply be safe and follow O.C.G.A. law 40-6-144: “No person shall drive any vehicle upon a sidewalk or sidewalk area except upon a permanent or duly authorized driveway.”
In addition to potential injuries caused by improper scooter usage, university officials state that riding on the sidewalk or in traffic incorrectly may result in a $185 fine plus associated court fees through Athens-Clarke County Municipal Court.
With the university’s first football game attracting thousands of fans this weekend, officials emphasize that these new rules are intended to help all UGA fans have a better, safer experience.