DC’s dockless scooter decision is bad for consumers but great for Jump and Lyft

You don’t need a Ph.D. in economics to understand that limits on competition are usually a bad idea. Innovation and entrepreneurship bring fresh ideas, improvements in quality, more options, and lower prices. When governments limit rivalry through regulation, consumers lose these benefits. Unfortunately, the District of Columbia is making this exact mistake by limiting competition among dockless scooter companies.

This month, the District Department of Transportation announced its 2020 Dockless Vehicle Sharing Program, drastically reducing the number of scooter companies allowed to operate within its jurisdiction. Eight companies participated in the 2019 program, but out of the 19 companies that applied for 2020, only four were approved.