Nashville will try out dockless e-bikes

• Unlike electric scooters, which in 2018 proliferated downtown without much government regulation, this time the city is stepping in on the front end.

Of note: The downtown tourist district is not included in the first phase, and there are just 75 e-bikes on the streets to start.

• Here's a map of where e-bikes will be allowed.

How it works: While there won't be docks, the city is installing bike racks to encourage riders to responsibly drop off their rentals.

• The e-bike companies will use geofencing to make sure riders stay within the designated zones. E-bikes, which are battery operated to help riders pedal, are rented using smartphones.

Flashback: The city boards overseeing parks and greenways debated last year whether to allow e-bikes on trails.

• The result of that discussion was a request for proposals for a possible contractor to provide docks at certain parks.