DETROIT (WWJ) -- A rumored teen takeover prompted Detroit Police to temporarily shut down electric scooters in the city.
Authorities say Lime scooters were locked, as a precaution, at around 7 p.m. Wednesday after there were multiple social media posts encouraging teens to ride downtown and gather near Campus Martius Park.
The Lime scooters are shared, dockless electric scooters designed for short trips around the city. To use one, you just find a nearby scooter using the Lime smartphone app, scan its QR code to unlock it for a small pay-per-minute fee, ride to your destination, and then park within the designated service area.
Police have not said whether or not an actual Campus Martius "teen takeover" happened, or if anyone was arrested or detained.
"Teen takeover" refers to a nationwide trend where large groups of adolescents use social media to coordinate massive, unpermitted gatherings at specific public spaces like downtown districts, malls, or parks.
While many participants simply look to socialize, the sheer scale of these flash-mob-style events has frequently overwhelmed local law enforcement and escalated into traffic disruptions, property damage, and instances of violence.
This incident in Detroit came after it was reported hundreds of people on e-scooters took to downtown Minneapolis streets, sidewalks and an interstate highway Saturday night, in what was dubbed a "scooter takeover" of that city.
Detroit's Lime scooters were no longer locked, as of Thursday morning.
