The District Department of Transportation suspended Capital Bikeshare service and asked micro-mobility companies to remove their scooters from the streets as a safety precaution ahead of the third night of protests.
The changes are unusual, but a DDOT spokesperson says the decision was made early Sunday morning at the request of law enforcement after the protests rapidly evolved into looting late Saturday night and early Sunday morning.
According to DDOT, the Metropolitan Police Department said scooters were being used as projectiles during Saturday’s protest. MPD and the office of D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser did not respond to requests for comment. At least one scooter was seen just outside a smashed window of a business in Georgetown this morning.
“At the point where it is a safety issue, we listen to the safety professionals,” a DDOT spokesperson tells WAMU.
Four scooter companies current operate in the District: Spin, Lime, Lyft, and Skip. Moped company Revel also temporarily shut down in response to the DDOT order.
Robert Gardner, public relations officer for Lime, confirmed the company has removed its scooters from the city in response to an order from DDOT: “We take public safety seriously and will continue to be in touch with the City about redeployment.”
The bikes were only removed from the District. DDOT partners with six other jurisdictions on the bikeshare, but bikes were available in Virginia and Maryland cities.
Meanwhile, Bowser has instituted a citywide curfew beginning at 11 p.m. Sunday.
Some residents said the suspension affected their ability to get to the protest.
https://twitter.com/MichelleHarven/status/1267200106568331265
https://twitter.com/jeremiah4dc/status/1267212978354601984
https://twitter.com/PLKDC/status/1267234832133828610
DDOT’s other service, the Circulator bus and Streetcar are still operating, as is WMATA buses and trains. Metro trains have been bypassing Farragut West, which is a few blocks from the center of the protest at Lafayette Square, “as a safety precaution” since about 7 p.m. Trains also bypassed McPherson Square for a short time Sunday afternoon.
Other cities around the country, including Chicago and Los Angeles, shut down public transportation in the areas around their protests during curfews.
DDOT has occasionally put restrictions on the scooters and bikes, including perimeters around Nationals Park during the World Series.
Jordan Pascale