Stuff We Missed looks to other Milwaukee publications (and beyond) for, well, stuff we missed throughout the week. This week: those darn scooters!
• Has it really been almost six years since those dockless electric scooters appeared in Milwaukee? It has! It’s been a long and sometimes contentious road for the handy/blasted things, but now, after countless rides and three “pilot studies” (read them HERE), Milwaukee is looking to not only allow scooters to return in 2024, but to return permanently. No more “pilot studies” needed!
“Milwaukee’s Public Works Committee on Wednesday approved new policies to continue allowing dockless scooters,” reports the Milwaukee Business Journal. “Pending final approval by the Common Council on March 19, the city would launch a new competitive process to sign contracts with up to two scooter operators this year.”
Those operators would be allowed to deploy 1,000 scooters each—more if they meet certain requirements. And despite the above photo from the wild and wooly scooter days of 2019, the operators would likely only deploy their scooters during warm weather months.
Oh, and then there’s the money! According to the Business Journal:
Under the agreements, operators would pay the city $100 for each scooter in the city. That’s double the fees operators previously paid, [Milwaukee Public Works Commissioner Jerrel] Kruschke said, and would mean about $200,000 in up-front revenue for the city this year. Operators would also pay 25 cents for each trip recorded by a scooter. That would generate another $200,000 if scooter ridership doesn’t drop from 2022 and 2023.
That’s $400,000 folks! We’ll take it! And remind folks not to ride the things on the sidewalk, and to park them responsibly! [Milwaukee Business Journal]
• “I am a champion for growing Milwaukee, adding energy and activity to Milwaukee. I want more investment, more jobs, and more people—artists and entrepreneurs; intellectuals and athletes; I want investors, dreamers, and hardworking people who want to shape their future here.” So said Mayor Cavalier Johnson during his annual State of the City speech on Monday. [Urban Milwaukee]
• Maroon 5 will headline the American Family Insurance Amphitheater July 5 during Summerfest! [OnMilwaukee]
• Bryson Tiller will headline the BMO Pavilion July 5 during Summerfest! [OnMilwaukee]
• Speaking of Summerfest, the Northwestern Mutual Community Park on the Summerfest grounds—a.k.a. the kids playground—is open for the season. “The park will be accessible from 10 a.m. until dusk daily—depending on the weather—and during special events during the festival season including the Big Gig, the lakefront ethnic and cultural festivals, and other events.” [OnMilwaukee].
• Want to get a quick snack while waiting for the Amtrak? You’re in luck, because a Donut Squad location has just opened in downtown Milwaukee’s Intermodal Station! [Urban Milwaukee]
• Have a great weekend, Milwaukee!
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