E-scooters make their way back to Albuquerque

On a recent weekday, electric scooters were on the sidewalks near the University of New Mexico campus and riders were whizzing down sidewalks.

Spin, an e-scooter and bike rental company, dropped off electric scooters last month near UNM. It was part of a soft launch, with a full launch set for a later date.

The micromobility company allows consumers to rent the scooters through a free app. Once on the app, customers must preload their account with a fixed amount of money, the lowest option is $10.

Samuel Smith is a student and employee at UNM. Smith said when he used an e-scooter, “it was like a $1.”

Smith has ridden electric scooters in the past and now owns an electric bike, which he uses to commute to school.

“If you want to park (a car) at UNM, it is a nightmare,” Smith said.

Kelli Miner is a biology student at UNM. She said she doesn't understand the point of the scooters being near campus, since the area is already walkable.

The scooters are not allowed to drive through red zones, like UNM's campus. However, they do work on the sidewalk on Central Avenue just outside campus. Riders are then supposed to leave the e-scooter anywhere in the blue zone.

“People do go really fast on sidewalks. It's kind of reckless,” Miner said.

Smith said he understands why some people choose to use the sidewalks instead of sharing the road with cars.

He had been hit by a car running a red light while he was biking back from work his sophomore year of college.

“It can be really scary if someone just breezes by you,” Smith said. “But to me, it indicates a problem with the bike (lane) infrastructure.”

The city of Albuquerque has implemented some rules for Spin use, such as requiring a helmet for riders under the age of 18.

The Spin electric scooters do not have helmets attached to them and the Spin app does not ask for your age.

The city did provide a number, (866) 205-2442, and email, abq@spin.com, so people could call if they find Spin scooters blocking parking spaces or experience other e-scooter issues.

"Nobody wants to put them back where they are supposed to go," Miner said.