Why Lyft is eliminating dockless scooters and bikes in Denver

Lyft is pulling the plug on its dockless scooter and e-bike operations in Denver, even as demand for alternative transportation grows.

The latest: Lyft announced this month it will "no longer operate standalone dockless bikes and scooters" in Denver and is "exploring alternatives."

• It also cut scooter operations in Washington, D.C., and is "narrowing [its] product portfolio to focus on [its] best-in-class bikes and e-bikes, scooters, electrified docking stations, and software, to better sell to, serve, and electrify cities," according to the announcement.

Why it matters: Lyft's exit could reshape Denver's rideshare offerings and policy around micromobility.

The big picture: Dockless bikes and scooters offer a convenient, eco-friendly travel option but have caused issues like crowded curbs and accidents in cities nationwide, including Denver .

Context: Denver signed a five-year contract with the San Francisco-based company in 2021. Lyft then said it would invest $25 million in Denver's bike and scooter system.

• Lyft's fleet around town includes more than 2,900 dockless scooters and roughly 600 e-bikes.

What they're saying: The announcement appears to have surprised Denver's transportation department and left city leaders unclear on what the withdrawal means.

• Given "the popularity of micromobility in the Mile High City … we'd like to ensure that scooters and e-bikes remain a viable travel option for our residents and visitors," transportation department spokesperson Nancy Kuhn told us in a statement.
• Lyft declined Axios Denver's request for comment.

By the numbers: Average daily trips for scooters and e-bikes in Denver reached more than 56,200 last year compared to 17,400 in 2019 — a 223% increase — according to an Axios analysis of data from Ride Report , a micromobility-focused tech company.

• Meanwhile, the city has seen a staggering uptick in electric scooter crashes. Denver Health recorded a 787% jump in admissions for scooter accidents, from 18 in 2018 to 158 in 2022, Denverite reports .

What's next: City leaders are working to minimize disruption for riders as they determine how to proceed, Kuhn told us.