MINNEAPOLIS — Large groups of scooter riders took to the streets of downtown Minneapolis over two consecutive nights this weekend, prompting a law-enforcement response and raising questions about traffic safety, highway access and interactions between riders and police.
The gatherings occurred Saturday, Aug. 8, and Sunday, Aug. 9, generally beginning around 9 p.m. and continuing until approximately midnight.
Information collected by the National Correspondent Network indicates the first gathering began near Nicollet Park and involved an estimated 100 participants. The second gathering began near U.S. Bank Stadium and was substantially larger.
An agency subsequently provided NCN with an estimate of approximately 1,000 participants during the second night. The figure represents an estimate rather than an exact attendance count.
Videos, screenshots, social-media posts and original footage obtained by NCN show groups of riders traveling through portions of downtown Minneapolis.
NCN has also obtained footage appearing to show groups of scooter riders entering highway areas. The precise highway routes and entrance and exit points remain under review.
Gatherings promoted through social media
NCN identified Instagram and TikTok posts promoting the gatherings.
One public social-media account identified during NCN’s investigation promoted a ride and directed participants to gather around 9 p.m. near U.S. Bank Stadium.
The second gathering drew significantly more participants than the first.
Police respond
The Minneapolis Police Department and Metro Transit Police were among the agencies involved during the gatherings.
Video obtained by NCN shows interactions between riders and police. Some footage appears to show police vehicles making physical contact with scooter riders.
The footage alone does not establish the circumstances leading to those contacts, whether they were intentional, who was responsible, or whether anyone was injured.
NCN is seeking additional information from MPD regarding the encounters.
Crashes also occurred during the gatherings, according to material reviewed by NCN. It remains unclear how many people were injured or whether anyone required hospitalization.
NCN has not yet independently established whether arrests, citations or detentions occurred.
Investigation remains active
NCN has opened Investigation 347 to examine the scooter gatherings, their organization, highway activity and law-enforcement response.
NCN is seeking information from the Minneapolis Police Department regarding incident numbers, arrests or citations, reported injuries, highway involvement, police commands and the circumstances surrounding vehicle-rider contacts captured on video.
NCN also plans to seek information from Metro Transit Police and Lime.
Information obtained by NCN indicates another gathering may be planned. NCN is continuing to verify those details.
Reports regarding how law enforcement may respond to any future gathering remain unconfirmed.
