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Bird & Lime Scooters
Charlene____
Posts: 110 Member
This isn’t really a debate but more of a hot topic for those who reside in cities with these scooters. In my city, they appeared mid-May and are wreaking havoc on sidewalks and on the running and walking trails in my park. They are left in places that cause tripping hazards, riders will nearly hit you on the sidewalk, and the park where I run, well it’s dodging death out there, especially on the weekends. I don’t know who to complain to. I have emailed the park administrator where I live since motorized vehicles of any sort with the exception of wheelchairs are prohibited but nothing is being done about it. Today was my last straw as I was bumped into by an out-of-control rider. I understand that technology exists where a geofence can be installed to prohibit the use of them in certain areas. Is anyone else having these issues in their cities? If so, who are you complaining to? During my 3.5 mile run today, I counted 247 scooters that either I passed or who passed me all entirely in the park that prohibits motorized vehicles.
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Replies
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It is out of control. Start complaining to your mayor.1
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Someone will be seriously hurt, lawsuit, they will be a done deal.1
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I have to be honest and tell you I had no clue what in the world you were talking about lol. But a quick Google search tells me you aren't the only one that is not happy with them.
Dont know what to tell you but I am assuming whoever owns them has to have some sort of business license in order to operate there. Maybe someone at your local city hall would know?1 -
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It’s lime bikes around the university here, they are always parked in the oddest places and I hardly ever see anyone riding them.1
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I'm in Minneapolis. We got them here this summer. I haven't seen a lot on the park trails yet, fortunately. But I see them a lot downtown and the downtown-adjacent area where I live. People ride them on the sidewalks and I've seen some close calls with people almost hitting pedestrians. I can't imagine ever using one, they don't strike me as terribly safe.0
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Charlene____ wrote: »This isn’t really a debate but more of a hot topic for those who reside in cities with these scooters. In my city, they appeared mid-May and are wreaking havoc on sidewalks and on the running and walking trails in my park. They are left in places that cause tripping hazards, riders will nearly hit you on the sidewalk, and the park where I run, well it’s dodging death out there, especially on the weekends. I don’t know who to complain to. I have emailed the park administrator where I live since motorized vehicles of any sort with the exception of wheelchairs are prohibited but nothing is being done about it. Today was my last straw as I was bumped into by an out-of-control rider. I understand that technology exists where a geofence can be installed to prohibit the use of them in certain areas. Is anyone else having these issues in their cities? If so, who are you complaining to? During my 3.5 mile run today, I counted 247 scooters that either I passed or who passed me all entirely in the park that prohibits motorized vehicles.
Maybe bring up your concerns with your mayor/city council? Start a petition? Letter to the editor of your local newspaper?
https://lifehacker.com/5981392/how-can-i-get-my-local-government-to-pay-attention-to-me0 -
Not here yet. But there was just an article in the newspaper they are taking bids for them to be here by January 1, 2019. And the article states they can only be used on sidewalks and in city parks. Goes on to say how one uses a credit card with them and so on. And how when the rider is done, it is totally acceptable to just leave them where ever you are. I was like, no they cannot mean that. Then the article I guess to make people feel good, um not me, goes on to state they go between 5-8MPH which is much slower than your average Segway which can go 12MPH. We already have the lime bikes, and for most part they have not been too much of an issue. I know in some cities in the U,S. they have had a good many issues with drunk drivers on the scooters.0
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janejellyroll wrote: »I'm in Minneapolis. We got them here this summer. I haven't seen a lot on the park trails yet, fortunately. But I see them a lot downtown and the downtown-adjacent area where I live. People ride them on the sidewalks and I've seen some close calls with people almost hitting pedestrians. I can't imagine ever using one, they don't strike me as terribly safe.
Me too. I run at lunch and nearly every day on the Stone Arch bridge or around there am almost run down by scooters. How fast do they go? I know in the evenings in rush hour I've seen them weaving through stopped traffic. I heard our building was thinking of banning them near the building as so many are "parked" (that is, tipped over on the plaza) outside our main doors.
ETA - I saw a guy today trying to ride one on the cobblestone street over by the A mill building. I almost fell over laughing.1 -
I hate them - there are three companies with them here and they popped up over the span of two days this summer. I too have almost gotten hit by them from behind multiple times. They are prohibited on sidewalks as well as in public parks and multi-use paths. The is also a preexisting helmet law for anyone on a motorized scooter but given how few people I see wearing helmets, I doubt that's enforced. However, I suspect there will be some policing done in some of the parks that are more central to the downtown area (the first sign that I saw up about them being prohibited was put up three or four weeks ago).
Like someone else said, I suspect that what will end up happening is that someone will get seriously injured/die and then they'll vanish from the city. I've heard they break poorly when it's wet and we've very much reached that season here (clearly they just need disk brakes
) 0 -
You clearly aren't the only one to feel this way. I just saw them for the first time a couple weeks ago while visiting another state. I'm sure they're coming my way though....
https://www.curbed.com/2018/10/22/18009492/bird-lime-scooter-lawsuit-los-angeles0 -
I just saw someone in my local sub-reddit post about finding one in my area. I had no idea what it was lol. I didn't know they were such a nuisance? They seem like a nice idea but should be kept to more urban areas I think... ETA I just read through these responses so far, I didn't know motorized scooters were such a problem lol! My son has one but just rides around the neighborhood on it.0
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I just saw someone in my local sub-reddit post about finding one in my area. I had no idea what it was lol. I didn't know they were such a nuisance? They seem like a nice idea but should be kept to more urban areas I think... ETA I just read through these responses so far, I didn't know motorized scooters were such a problem lol! My son has one but just rides around the neighborhood on it.
The problem with them in urban areas is that people like to ride them on sidewalks and it don't know that your average person would be able to ride one at walking speed. If there was enforcement in terms of them not being allowed on sidewalks then ok, but that's not what's going on in a lot of places from what I can tell.0 -
I just watched a South Park episode where all the kids In town went trick or treating on scooters. I’m sure this is somehow on topic.5
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I just saw them for the first time on a trip to Atlanta. I ended up installing the app and renting one. They are a lot of fun! I can also see where they can be a problem. Not sure what the middle ground will be between the scooters and pedestrians.0
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I just saw them for the first time on a trip to Atlanta. I ended up installing the app and renting one. They are a lot of fun! I can also see where they can be a problem. Not sure what the middle ground will be between the scooters and pedestrians.
In my view (and my state's laws), they don't belong on sidewalks in the same way that bikes don't belong on sidewalks (unless you're an average small child). It seems fairly straight forward. It's getting people to realize that that's the issue. If you're worried about cars and drivers running into people on electric scooters, then that's an issue of infrastructure and enforcing traffic laws (which is an issue cyclists deal with on a much more frequent basis).3 -
Start by looking up Municipal codes for your city and county. then email your city council. take pictures of scooters blocking bus benches, etc. they did not get back to me about the 3 code violations or the lack of certain business licenses in the county but the scooters are parked elsewhere and now banned on campus.
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Rumor has it, now that we're well within the fall and it's rainy more days than not, they scooters have been pulled. I see a few strewn about here and there, but there aren't nearly as many now. Hopefully the city will do some serious reassessment before thinking about allowing companies to bring them back.1
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Here in NC some cities have banned them. I'm not sure who you would complain to- Chamber of Commerce or DOT maybe?0
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Bird scooters showed up in my town earlier this year - BOOM! Lyme scooters showed up a couple of months later. They both do not have a business license, and still don't. I run a business and MUST have one or I get shuttered. What the heck?!
Thankfully winter came early and they are rarely used and the numbers have been reduced. I am afraid of what spring will bring. We have one university and two large colleges so I guess, sadly, they are here to stay.
I am in the "hate them" category. My town is loaded with hiking/biking trails and also KATY Trail State Park and these are showing up on the NO MOTORIZED VEHICLE trails.
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I haven't seen them yet. I mostly run on sidewalks around the neighborhoods, and not on the more popular trails or downtown, so not where you'd expect to see them, but turns out we don't have them yet (other than a couple of trials during events) and rules are being discussed. https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-chicago-regulations-electric-scooters-20180814-story.html
I'd agree they should not be on sidewalks and would prefer they not be on the 606 or Lakefront Trail.0 -
Bird scooters showed up in my town earlier this year - BOOM! Lyme scooters showed up a couple of months later. They both do not have a business license, and still don't. I run a business and MUST have one or I get shuttered. What the heck?!
Thankfully winter came early and they are rarely used and the numbers have been reduced. I am afraid of what spring will bring. We have one university and two large colleges so I guess, sadly, they are here to stay.
I am in the "hate them" category. My town is loaded with hiking/biking trails and also KATY Trail State Park and these are showing up on the NO MOTORIZED VEHICLE trails.
I understand the benefit of these motorized scooters, for people who use them responsibly. But I'm certain they provide more problems than they do benefits.
The stories you hear about the scooters and their problems border on comical.
I have a safe vantage point from St Charles County, but in Saint Louis (for a while at least) they were strongly suggesting that riders wear helmets-- their own helmets-- a suggestion followed by absolutely no one.
CORRECTION: The helmet thing in St Louis is a city ordinance (i.e., a 'law'). A law no one follows and is hardly enforced.1 -
Yeah we have the same law except it's a state one. I've seen it enforced approximately never. I have seen a handful of people wear helmets when riding them though. Of course those are also the people acting more responsible on them in general..
CORRECTION: The helmet thing in St Louis is a city ordinance (i.e., a 'law'). A law no one follows and is hardly enforced.
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Yeah we have the same law except it's a state one. I've seen it enforced approximately never. I have seen a handful of people wear helmets when riding them though. Of course those are also the people acting more responsible on them in general..
CORRECTION: The helmet thing in St Louis is a city ordinance (i.e., a 'law'). A law no one follows and is hardly enforced.
Business in the ER has really picked up since the scooters have arrived. It's in the news a lot.
Earlier this summer I found this scooter on the Katy Trail about 8+ miles south of the nearest KATY Trail access. Yup - it came from 8+ miles that-a-way.
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keep in mind before you complain - you are probably complaining about someones source of income...that was ok'd by someone - who probably has skin in the game too- be careful. backlash is real ...very very real. (why don't you think the parks people are responding?)4
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keep in mind before you complain - you are probably complaining about someones source of income...that was ok'd by someone - who probably has skin in the game too- be careful. backlash is real ...very very real. (why don't you think the parks people are responding?)
You think the scooter industry is going to find their online critics and start taking people out?11 -
L1zardQueen wrote: »
Wow! OK, genius inventor, invent a cheap enough system to drone fly the bikes from any location back to their starting spot.1 -
keep in mind before you complain - you are probably complaining about someones source of income...that was ok'd by someone - who probably has skin in the game too- be careful. backlash is real ...very very real. (why don't you think the parks people are responding?)
@urloved33 As I stated previously (maybe you didn't see - it was the last message on the prior page) - I own a business and must have a business licence in order to operate. Both scooters companies STILL do not have a business license or a provisional business license after months of operation. I would be shuttered within 30 days without my annual business license being paid in full - yet somehow they still operate.
So, as a business owner and a taxpayer, I can complain all I want. If the scooter companies get worked up about it - so what. Nothing I said is untrue. It's on the news and a major talking point.
The funny thing is the business license is not that expensive to pay - it's 25 cents per $1,000 of gross revenue. So it would be a whopping $125 on $500k of revenue. Pay up or get out of town!9 -
I was just sent a link to a survey about these scooters from the Active Transportation Alliance:
"Chicago and other cities across the region are considering allowing electric scooter sharing companies to launch in their towns. This new mobility option has the potential to advance or undermine Active Trans' mission to promote forms of transportation that help build healthy, sustainable and equitable communities."
Visit activetrans.org/scooters to take our 5-question survey about electric scooter sharing.
In case anyone is interested.1 -
WTF are bird and lime scooters and who would ever think about them for 5 seconds?1
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