On one hand, they’re an accessible and eco-friendly alternative to cars in a city where parking is often a chore. They also provide a viable alternative to a crowded bus or an expensive Uber for residents who don’t drive, or simply don’t own a car…

But nonetheless, the program is popular, and despite all its growing pains, it seems to do what it set out to do. With about 1,000 scooters currently on the streets of the Steel City, riders are taking full advantage of them as an equitable way of getting around without having to wait for a potentially crowded bus — a potential concern as COVID-19 cases continue to spike.

Although Spin doesn’t release its daily ridership figures, Shoman said the company will be working with Carnegie Mellon University and the Urban Institute to do a research study on the Pittsburgh pilot program in order to learn more about who, exactly, has been using the scooters the most.
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