HEADS UP: Nighttime ban for e-scooters begins in Atlanta

ATLANTA — Friday night was the first night people were not allowed to ride electric scooters in Atlanta.

[READ MORE: Mayor bans nighttime use of e-scooters in Atlanta]

Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms called for the nighttime ban because of four deadly scooter accidents in metro Atlanta.

The latest crash where someone was hurt was in Buckhead on Thursday night on Peachtree Road.

The ban runs from 9 p.m. until 4 a.m. Companies are required to disable the scooters.

Channel 2's Justin Wilfon found Javier Santana trying to rent one just after the curfew went into effect.

"We were trying to get back to our hotel. It's, like, a mile from here, but I think we're just going to have to walk now," Santana said.

Like everyone else who was trying to rent a scooter after 9 p.m., a message popped up on Santana's app, informing him the scooter wouldn't be available until 4 a.m.

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Atlanta's planning commissioner, Tim Keane, said he hopes the ban is temporary.

"People getting around the city in different ways is a good thing. We want that as part of our transportation future, but we have to be careful about it, safe about it," Keane said.

Keane said until the city can better control the scooter explosion and find ways to make using them safer, the ban will remain in place.

In a statement, one of the largest e-scooter companies, Bird, said it will comply with the mayor's curfew but also said:

"We are exploring long term solutions that more effectively meet the needs of all transit users — in particular, those who require access to transportation in the evening hours. Access to equitable transit options should not be restricted to residents based on their work or class schedule."

If you're already riding one of the scooters at 9 p.m., it will keep working. It won't just stop.

But if you try to rent one after 9 p.m., you'll be out of luck.

Cox Media Group