Density Drives Demand for Electric Scooters

Lyft is ceasing operations of its electric scooter business in six U.S. cities, citing the lack of population density as a reason business struggled in those markets.

1 minute read

November 17, 2019, 1:00 PM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Electric Scooters

Lyft Scooters, like the one shown here, will no longer operate in Dallas, also shown here. | Harry Thomas Flower / Shutterstock

"Lyft notified employees [November 14] that it’s pulling its scooters from six markets: Nashville, San Antonio, Atlanta, the Phoenix area, Dallas and Columbus," reports Megan Rose Dickey.

"Lyft landed on this decision because it found that cities with the greatest population density are best for micromobility, and those six markets are not included in that group," according to Dickey.

Lyft joins a few other companies in scaling back operations this year. Uber also pulled JUMP bikes and scooters from a few of markets—like San Diego, Providence, and Atlanta—earlier this year. Uber's problems in Los Angeles, however, were caused by tangles with regulators.

The cutbacks also mean Lyft is laying off employees, about 20 of a total team of 400 working on bikes and scooters at the company.

Thursday, November 14, 2019 in TechCrunch

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