E-scooters and e-bikes have become quite the point of contention for many municipalities recently. That’s because the laws associated with these vehicles are often misunderstood, and police face challenges when trying to enforce them.
Charlotte, North Carolina, is no exception. According to an Aug. 5, 2026, Facebook post from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, e-scooter and e-bike accidents are on the rise. The police department partnered with Dr. Magill from Levine Children’s Hospital to talk about the issue, explaining how injuries from these types of accidents have tripled between 2024 and 2025.
Now the city of Charlotte may face some new concerns about these electric vehicles after a group that goes by the name 704Meets began scheduling “Scooter Meets” downtown. The viral campaign has taken off on Instagram, bringing crowds of people together downtown.
This has city officials and police on edge, since these “takeover” events could raise concerns when it comes to public safety. However, organizers say that their meetups are largely misunderstood, with one member of 704Meets even talking to WBTV about the motive behind gathering people together in this way.
The Meetups Are Meant to Be Good Clean Fun
View this post on Instagram
A person who goes by the name Dolo spoke with WBTV about the viral campaign. “We’re not representing nothing but positivity, fun, safe,” they told the outlet. Another one of the event coordinators who goes by the name Zach agreed with Dolo, saying the meetups were designed as a way for the community to come together outside and away from their phones and other screens.
“When we did it the first time, people seemed to like it,” Zach explained. “So we decided to do another one and a lot more people came, so I guess it’s just a growing trend out here now.”
Event Organizers Say Safety Is a Top Priority
With massive crowds visible in the viral video of one of their events, it’s no wonder some may be worried about the dangers associated with hosting this type of event. But Zach and Dolo say they are doing their best to keep things light and fun, which includes keeping people who may want to cause trouble away from the event.
“The moment we feel like it’s unsafe, it won’t happen no more, you know? Straight up like it’s not something that we’re trying to do,” Dolo said. Even the flyer for the event seems to reinforce this idea. The graphic shared on Instagram says that the event is open to “everyone,” but then quickly says that only people riding Lime and Bird vehicles are welcome, with a “no dirt bikes” clause prominently spelled out.
The City Is Responding With New Ordinances for E-Bikes and E-Scooters
The City Council met on Sept. 8, 2026, to discuss putting some new rules on the books after the viral takeovers brought hundreds of people into the city’s center during these meetups, according to WBTV. City Council member Dimple Ajmera shared her concerns about the possible dangers during the session.
“In the video, I clearly see where intersections were blocked,” Ajmera said of one of the recent viral social media clips. “Pedestrians were put at risk. I see scooters and e-bikes doing donuts and doing stunts.”
Ajmera asked Captain Jeremiah Blow about the viral meetups and how they were being handled. “We did have a scooter takeover Saturday. We had a plan, we implemented the plan, and I believe we were successful,” he told the council member during the meeting. “We did have several charges related to reckless driving and other Chapter 20 or motor vehicle violations.”
Whether that goes far enough for people like Ajmera who want to see stiffer consequences remains to be seen, but for now it looks like city employees have their work cut out for them while they navigate these viral meetups moving forward.