Amrita Malur
Shenita Covington charges a Lime-S scooter outside of Witherspoon Student Center on Tuesday, November 20, 2018. Lime-S allows users to rent the electric scooters and leave them anywhere once they are done using them.
An agreement has been approved with South Carolina-based Gotcha electric scooters to replace Bird and Lime scooters in Raleigh this summer, according to The News & Observer.
After issues with city regulations, Bird and Lime both announced they would be leaving Raleigh but would continue operating through the end of July. City leaders ultimately authorized the introduction of 500 Gotcha scooters to Raleigh later this summer, according to The News & Observer.
As stated in WRAL, four other electric scooter companies applied to replace Bird and Lime, but Gotcha was the only company recommended by city staff members.
Bird and Lime scooters both rely on individual contractors to charge and maintain their scooters, whereas Gotcha will have a local staff to fulfill those duties, according to The News & Observer.
Raleigh Transportation Director Michael Moore said via The News & Observerthat Gotcha was chosen due to the positive feedback received by other cities as well as the increased accountability that comes from having local staff.
Gotcha is present on other North Carolina college campuses, including UNC-Chapel Hill, UNC-Charlotte and UNC-Wilmington.