Columbus to adopt new bikeshare system by spring

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The city of Columbus is getting rid of its current bikeshare system and e-scooters seen around town. City leaders said they hope the new system will be easier for riders to manage.

By spring, a new company called Veo will take over as companies like Lime, Bird and CoGo will be transitioned out. Veo offers a variety of devices including a pedal bike, e-bike, e-scooters and sit-down scooters. This means there will be new gadgets for people in the city to try.

“We’re really excited about the diverse array of device types that they’re offering so we’re going to see a lot of new, innovative high-quality devices that folks haven’t seen in the central Ohio market,” said Justin Goodwin with Columbus’ Mobility and Parking Services.

“I like the fact that Veo is new, so there’s going to be newer equipment out there than what our fleet is now five to ten years old, and also the depth and breadth of choices with Veo,” said Columbus bicyclist David Roseman.

"With just one company, there will be docking stations with room for all the new equipment. We’re giving them number one, the best possible product with variation and secondly, to ensure that even if you may not be a person who uses those mobility devices it isn’t in an ADA curb ramp, it isn’t in the middle of the sidewalk,” said Columbus City Councilmember Lourdes de Padilla.

Mobility and Parking Services data shows people take around one million trips a year on scooters in the city, and bikes are popular too. Roseman uses the current CoGo system frequently and is excited to try out the new devices after the switch to Veo.

“The community is now going to have the ability at a one-stop station to take your choice of what best suits you,” Roseman said. “Do you want an e-bike, do you want a scooter, do you want to sit up, do you want to stand up?”

The city said the number and location of Veo docking stations are still being worked out, but scooters and bikes will have to be parked in a dock rather than left wherever the rider is finished. The hope is for fewer scooters lying around in random places throughout Columbus. 

When it comes to availability, Roseman says he worries there could be some downsides with the loading docks.

“I think the Veo was going to corral them into a more centralized location that’ll be safer for everybody, but perhaps will lack the ability for the people to find as many as they’re accustomed to right now,” said Roseman.

There are still some questions about the transition to Veo and the city of Columbus hopes to provide those answers in the coming weeks. The current scooters and bikes will be phased out by spring and the goal is to have the Veo system in place by the end of March.