[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 139 (Monday, July 20, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43822-43824]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-15583]


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CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION


CPSC Micromobility Products Forum

AGENCY: Consumer Product Safety Commission.

ACTION: Announcement of meeting.

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SUMMARY: Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) staff is holding a 
forum on micromobility products (e-scooters, e-bicycles, and 
hoverboards). CPSC staff invites interested parties to attend or 
participate in the forum via webinar.

DATES: The Micromobility Product Forum (Forum) will be held from 9 a.m. 
to 4 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) on September 15, 2020, via CPSC 
webinar. All attendees should pre-register for the webinar. Individuals 
interested in serving on panels or presenting information at the Forum 
should register by August 3, 2020. All other individuals who wish to 
attend the Forum should register by August 28, 2020.

ADDRESSES: The Forum will be held via webinar. Attendance is free of 
charge. Persons interested in serving on a panel, presenting 
information, or attending the Forum should register online at: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2064441241545141776 and fill in the 
information. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email 
containing information about joining the webinar. Detailed instructions 
for the Forum participants and other interested parties will be made 
available on the CPSC website on the public calendar: https://cpsc.gov/newsroom/public-calendar.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lawrence Mella, Directorate for 
Engineering Sciences, 5 Research Place, Rockville, MD 20850; telephone 
301-987-2537; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: CPSC staff is hosting a Micromobility 
Products Forum to collect information on the product market, hazards, 
risk, and risk-reduction efforts associated with micromobility 
products. The information collected from the Forum will assist staff in 
making recommendations for improving the safety of these consumer 
products.

I. Background

A. Micromobility Product Descriptions

[[Page 43823]]

    ``Micromobility products'' \1\ (e-scooters, e-bicycles, and 
hoverboards, each discussed in turn) are an emerging mode of personal 
transportation. Micromobility products can occupy space alongside 
bicycles on dedicated bike lanes or paths, but they are not intended 
for sidewalks with pedestrians or for vehicle-occupied roads with cars 
and trucks.\2\ Micromobility products now use electric motors as a 
propulsion system because of advancements in rechargeable battery 
technology. These products are popular with consumers because they are 
convenient for short-distance travel.
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    \1\ Taxonomy and Classification of Powered Micromobility 
Vehicles. SAE International, 2019.
    \2\ Zarif, Rasheq, et al., ``Small Is Beautiful.'' Deloitte 
Insights, 15 Apr. 2019, www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/focus/future-of-mobility/micro-mobility-is-the-future-of-urban-transportation.html?id=us%3A2ps%3A3gl%3Aconfidence%3Aeng%3Acons%3A42319%3Anonem%3Ana%3AnhRV7UOl%3A1149484916%3A344865936385%3Ab%3AFuture_of_Mobility%3AMicromobility_BMM%3Anb.
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    An electric standing scooter (e-scooter) has the following 
characteristics:
     Foot platform for the operator (and passenger) to stand 
on,
     center column with a handlebar for steering,
     speed controlled by the operator using the accelerator/
throttle and brakes,
     powered partially or fully by a motor,
     manufactured primarily for transportation of not more than 
one person (except for specifically designed vehicles), and
     composed of two or three wheels held in a frame in the 
longitudinal direction of travel.
    CPSC's regulation at 16 CFR 1512.2(a)(2) defines ``bicycle'' as a 
``two- or three- wheeled vehicle with fully operable pedals and an 
electric motor of less than 750 watts (1 h.p.), whose maximum speed on 
a paved level surface, when powered solely by such a motor while ridden 
by an operator who weighs 170 pounds, is less than 20 mph.'' Staff 
refers to this product as an ``electric bicycle,'' an ``e-bicycle,'' or 
``e-bike.'' E-bicycles can be equipped with an electric motor that 
provides assistance while pedaling, or full propulsion.
    Hoverboards have the following characteristics:
     Foot platforms or footpegs for the operator to stand on,
     may have self-balancing mechanism (not statically stable),
     controlled by the operator via controls on a center column 
and/or the operator distributing their weight for speed and steering,
     powered solely by a motor,
     manufactured primarily for transportation of not more than 
one person, and
     one or two wheels in parallel.

B. Micromobility Product Use

    Consumers purchase micromobility products for personal 
transportation, as well as rent and use them through ride-share 
applications. For example, e-scooters and e-bicycles are increasingly 
used in ride-sharing programs in cities across the United States, where 
each product can be used by many different riders, multiple times a 
day. Some ride-sharing systems offer rental transportation products 
that have docking stations for drop-off and pickup, while other systems 
use smartphone applications to provide a dockless option.\3\
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    \3\ DuPuis, Nicole, and Jason Griess. Micromobility in Cities A 
History and Policy Overview. National League of Cities (NLC), 
Micromobility in Cities A History and Policy Overview.
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C. Relevant Voluntary Standards

    ASTM has two voluntary standards related to powered scooters and 
skateboards for children: ASTM F2641-08(2015), Standard Consumer Safety 
Specification for Recreational Powered Scooters and Pocket Bikes and 
ASTM F2642-08(2015), Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Safety 
Instructions and Labeling for Recreational Powered Scooters and Pocket 
Bikes. CPSC staff is involved in ASTM's development of two additional 
voluntary standards: The Standard Consumer Safety Specification for 
Commercial Electric-Powered Scooters for Adults, and the Standard 
Consumer Safety Specification for Self-Balancing Scooters 
(Hoverboards). UL has two relevant electrical safety standards: UL 
2272, Standard for Electrical Systems for Personal E-Mobility Devices 
and UL 2849, Standard for Electrical Systems for E-bikes.

II. Forum Topics

    The Micromobility Products Forum will cover three specific 
micromobility products: E-scooters, e-bicycles, and hoverboards.\4\ 
CPSC staff is interested in safety-related information on these 
products, including, but not limited to:
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    \4\ The Forum will not discuss various other categories of 
micromobility products not described in this notice.
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A. Research

     Braking performance, such as brake distance, reliability, 
durability, and variability on level ground versus inclines and various 
system power levels;
     Product dynamics, such as handling characteristics, 
stability over various surfaces, and chassis integrity;
     Software integration, such as functionality after power 
loss or system shut down, speed restriction, brake assist, and 
application (app) security;
     Battery safety, such as factors related to various battery 
types, power output, and battery management systems; and
     Human interaction with micromobility products, such as 
foreseeable uses, expectations, and body positioning in various 
situations.

B. Injury Data and Statistics

     Information on injury scenarios and severity, and
     Injuries in relation to consumer age.

C. Safety Standards Development

     Existing standards, developing standards, and gaps in the 
standards.

D. Impact of Micromobility Products on the Urban Infrastructure

     Use of micromobility products in bike lanes, streets, 
sidewalks, or urban areas;
     Charging products at residential versus commercial 
locations; and
     Differences between commercial and consumer micromobility 
products.

E. Safety Gear and Protective Equipment

     Equipment or safety practices that may decrease hazards.

F. Safety Instructions and Labeling

     Warning labels and on-product and point-of-sale warning 
information relevant to micromobility product usage.

III. Forum Details

A. Forum Time and Place

    CPSC staff will hold the Forum from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. EST on 
Tuesday, September 15, 2020, via webinar.

B. Forum Registration

    If you would like to make a presentation at the Micromobility 
Products Forum, or wish to be considered as a panel member for a 
specific topic or topics, you should register online by August 3, 2020. 
(See the ADDRESSES portion of this document for the website link and 
instructions on where to register.) If you would like to attend the 
Forum, but do not wish to make a presentation or participate on a 
panel, please register online by September 4, 2020.
    When registering online, please indicate whether you would like to

[[Page 43824]]

serve on a panel or make a presentation, and if so, submit to the email 
provided an abstract of your topic of less than one page. Staff will 
select panelists and individuals to make presentations at the Forum 
based on considerations such as: The submitted abstract information, 
the individual's demonstrated familiarity or expertise with the topic 
to be discussed, the practical utility of the information to be 
presented, and the individual's viewpoint or ability to represent 
certain interests (such as large manufacturers, small manufacturers, 
consumer advocates, and consumers). Staff would like the presentations 
to represent and address a wide variety of stakeholders and interests.
    Although staff will make an effort to accommodate all persons who 
wish to make a presentation, the time allotted for presentations will 
depend on the agenda and the number of persons who wish to speak on a 
given topic. Staff recommends that individuals and organizations with 
common interests consolidate or coordinate their presentations and 
request time for a joint presentation. If you have any questions 
regarding participating in the Forum, or if you wish to make a 
presentation, you should email an electronic version of the 
presentation abstract to Lawrence Mella, [email protected], 301-987-2537 
by August 3, 2020. Staff will notify those who are selected to make a 
presentation or participate in a panel at least 2 weeks before the 
Forum.

Alberta E. Mills,
Secretary, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
[FR Doc. 2020-15583 Filed 7-17-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6355-01-P