New startup aims to bring controversial scooter tracking system to more cities

Photo by Nick Statt / The Verge

Los Angeles’ successful (and controversial) scooter tracking system has spread to dozens of other cities since it was first rolled out in 2018. And now a new startup called Lacuna has emerged from stealth with a pitch to help cities manage the sprawling and potentially game-changing data collection practice.

To obtain a permit to operate dockless electric scooters in LA, the city requires operators to submit real-time location data for its entire fleet. This mobility data specification program, or MDS, allows the city to track the location of every two-wheeler as it scoots across the urban environment. Policymakers can then take this data and use it to make decisions about infrastructure improvements, such as scooter parking or new bike...

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