Denver considers dropping Lime and Bird scooters for provider that promises cheaper rates, more ride options

Denver is considering dropping its two scooter providers in favor of a sole operator — a company called Veo that plans to offer cheaper prices for rides and more scooter options.

If the City Council approves the deal, Denverites would no longer see Lime and Bird scooters on the streets beginning in May. Veo would take over that month, offering the familiar standing scooters now used, along with seated scooters, two-person scooters, cargo bikes and trikes.

The company also plans to offer cheaper rides for all users and a discount for Denver residents.

The current rate is $1 to unlock a scooter or e-bike, plus 44 cents per minute of riding. Under the new deal, the $1 unlock fee would remain but Denver residents would pay 25 cents per minute while other riders would pay 39 cents per minute.

The new provider would also enter Denver as new city rules for riding are taking effect. Veo’s scooters and bikes would have a built-in audio system warning riders when they’re breaking safety rules — like riding on sidewalks or stopping erratically. The council last year passed an ordinance that will require sidewalk-detection technology by July 1, with parking restrictions required for some areas by next year.

The Denver Department of Transportation and Infrastructure selected Santa Monica, California-based Veo from among several providers through a competitive bidding process, said senior city planner Nathan Pope. The licensing agreement with Veo would last at least three years, with Veo paying the city $250 per scooter device each year for up to 9,000 of them deployed throughout the city.

That would mean a cost of up to $2.25 million annually if Veo maximizes its Denver fleet.

“This decision was not made lightly,” Pope said Wednesday about Veo’s selection. “They were the strongest across all criteria.”

The council began the process of formally considering the deal when DOTI and Veo staff members presented the framework to its Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The panel’s members unanimously decided to delay voting on the contract until April 1, citing an interest in seeing the full contract first.

“You can’t ask this body to vote on things we can’t read,” council President Amanda Sandoval said. “I just want to read contracts. It’s my job.”

Public commenters and some council members expressed an interest in keeping the two-provider system by extending the city’s contract with Lime, which is backed by Uber. Councilwoman Flor Alvidrez said that would create redundancy in case of service interruptions.

“That is a risk that I’m not really sure DOTI considered,” she said during the meeting.

DOTI officials said that under the deal with Veo, they would have the option to add a second provider if the company wasn’t able to meet city requirements or user demand.

Veo would also offer a free-access program similar to one currently offered for Lime riders. Income-qualified riders would be able to have up to 60 minutes of free riding every day. Veo would also place about a third of its fleet in “equity-focused neighborhoods,” according to a presentation from the company.

Veo also plan to give out about 1,000 helmets per year to anyone who needs them.

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