Let’s talk about e scooters

[lordofthemark]

I mean yeah, I know we are the BIKE forum, but really, I can’t think of a better informed group of people to talk about this with.

Lets NOT talk about where they should be parked (which is the same argument, almost, as the dockless bikes) or whether they should be used on certain crowded trails (a similar argument to the ebike argument, I guess). I want to talk about riding them on streets, in bike lanes, on sidewalks (yup, though I haven’t, yet) in more or less urban areas. (there was already some discussion in the dockless bikes thread, but I think it will get lost there)

Personally while I found riding one interesting, I think I would always prefer a bike, dockless or CaBi, human powered or electric, over a scooter. I found starting it awkward, footing awkward, and hard to get used to having only the one brake, and how the hell do I signal? OTOH I think that is both because I am an “avid” cyclist (so don’t find mounting or dismounting a bike to be a big deal at all) and because as someone born back in the good old days, I missed the scooter craze (and snow board craze, and never did skate boards) So riding with my feet flat down like that is not natural, and the kick to get started is not natural.

Where to ride – I tried it around the Capital Riverfront area – so quiet, griddy streets, and relatively empty bike lanes. Felt odd riding (and esp making left turns) “vehicularly” but that is what you are supposed to do, I guess?

They are not supposed to be used on sidewalks, per Limebike, though I gather its legal to use scooters on sidewalks (does the CBD sidewalk ban apply to scooters as well as bikes). I did not violate that rule, but there are places I would be tempted to.

It said you should wear a helmet. I did not, and gather most users do not?

You could “pause” your ride, which is a fascinating feature. Though I chose not to use it.

I trust we all welcome them into bike lanes? I mean I don’t know about the actual crowded bike lanes (like 15th Street) but I sure think more use of our infra is good (surprise!) and they seem compatible. And, ONE LESS CAR.

Seems like one benefit is you can ride them without fear of getting your clothes caught or dirty with a chain – but all the bike share bikes have chain guards, maybe?

Topic

[dasgeh]

@peterw_diy 190983 wrote:

Which would mean that at many intersections with mere stop signs it would often not be legal to proceed due to poor sight lines. Shoot, there are intersections where even on a bike, without six feet of hood and dashboard in front of the rider, it’s difficult to check cross traffic from behind the stop line. It’s absurd to expect people to follow such laws.

I don’t think it’s absurd for RTOR. Just wait.

[creadinger]

@lordofthemark 191007 wrote:

But meanwhile I will advocate for remedies, especially ones like bike lanes and parking corrals that daylight intersections that have other benefits. And I will oppose unfair criticism of scooters that appear to to criticize them for things we accept in autos.

There’s an “improperly Parked” e-scooter thread on my Del Ray, Nextdoor app right now. All kinds of people advocating to saw it in half or throw it in the street or set it on fire or call the police… Only a few useful suggestions like move it 3 feet so it’s not in your way. I had to mention that at least it was a dockless scooter and not a dockless car blocking the sidewalk because you actually can move the scooter.

It’s off topic, so I have refrained from advocating setting improperly parked dockless cars on fire but most commentors seem to think the e-scooters are the absolute devil. There also seems to be an illegitimate fear that e-scooters are universally ridden by unruly teenagers and once you get a few in your neighborhood the TPing, lighting poo on fire, and bricks through windows is sure to follow. WTF.

EDIT: I should mention that the initial question was probably innocent from someone who’s legitimately not sure – Like, “How is the city handling this? Should I I report it or not?” The replies have mostly been useless.

[lordofthemark]

@creadinger 191086 wrote:

There’s an “improperly Parked” e-scooter thread on my Del Ray, Nextdoor app right now. All kinds of people advocating to saw it in half or throw it in the street or set it on fire or call the police… Only a few useful suggestions like move it 3 feet so it’s not in your way. I had to mention that at least it was a dockless scooter and not a dockless car blocking the sidewalk because you actually can move the scooter.

It’s off topic, so I have refrained from advocating setting improperly parked dockless cars on fire but most commentors seem to think the e-scooters are the absolute devil. There also seems to be an illegitimate fear that e-scooters are universally ridden by unruly teenagers and once you get a few in your neighborhood the TPing, lighting poo on fire, and bricks through windows is sure to follow. WTF.

EDIT: I should mention that the initial question was probably innocent from someone who’s legitimately not sure – Like, “How is the city handling this? Should I I report it or not?” The replies have mostly been useless.

Note on Next Door people in nearby neighborhoods can see the thread too – so you are probably getting the Old Town crowd as well – quite a few of those folks are on the warpath about escooters.

[mstone]

@lordofthemark 191088 wrote:

Note on Next Door people in nearby neighborhoods can see the thread too – so you are probably getting the Old Town crowd as well – quite a few of those folks are on the warpath about escooters.

In my experience there was always someone on the warpath about something on nextdoor, my solution was to leave.

[secstate]

@mstone 191103 wrote:

In my experience there was always someone on the warpath about something on nextdoor, my solution was to leave.

I came for the classifieds, stayed for the package theft videos

[lordofthemark]

@mstone 191103 wrote:

In my experience there was always someone on the warpath about something on nextdoor, my solution was to leave.

Oh its not just nextdoor, its on the FB pages of the Mayor and all the hyper local new sites, it’s at Council meetings, etc.

BTW, last night as I was walking home, the crosswalk was blocked by a car at North Hampton and Strutfield – not parked, the driver was there – but not waiting to turn – I think he was an Uber driver checking his phone. No better place to do that than right across the crosswalk I guess.

[Drewdane]

@dasgeh 190926 wrote:

FTFY

Cars can’t be picked up and moved aside, so I’d say if the inconsiderate have to get around, I rather have them on scooters.

Except I was referencing complaints I’ve seen on this forum about hooligans who don’t park their dockless bikeshares where we want them to.

Some of the “Two wheels good, but only a certain type of two wheels and if it doesn’t fit my definition of the ‘right’ two wheels then they’re The Devil” comments I’ve seen on this forum over the years just amaze me.

[dasgeh]

In case you don’t read all the posts and double posts, we’ll talk about escooters (and ebikes and bike parking and Army Navy Drive) at the June 3, 2019 Arlington BAC meeting.

[dbehrend]

@creadinger 191086 wrote:

There’s an “improperly Parked” e-scooter thread on my Del Ray, Nextdoor app right now. All kinds of people advocating to saw it in half or throw it in the street or set it on fire or call the police… Only a few useful suggestions like move it 3 feet so it’s not in your way.

One can only hope that news of a scooter catching fire in DC, and causing minor damage to a nearby wall, tempered your neighbors’ alarmist comments.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/transportation/2019/05/30/an-electric-scooter-caught-fire-downtown-dc/?utm_term=.52b0a0b9e2da

[Judd]

@dasgeh 191132 wrote:

In case you don’t read all the posts and double posts, we’ll talk about escooters (and ebikes and bike parking and Army Navy Drive) at the June 3, 2019 Arlington BAC meeting.

Good to see that the Army Navy Drive plans are at 30% design.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[huskerdont]

I absolutely love e-scooters. As a cyclist, I am finally not the most-hated mode user. People really seem to enjoy complaining about them.

[secstate]

@huskerdont 191182 wrote:

I absolutely love e-scooters. As a cyclist, I am finally not the most-hated mode user. People really seem to enjoy complaining about them.

Ha! Just wait for the pogo sticks!!

https://thenextweb.com/tech/2019/05/22/the-ceo-of-pogo-stick-sharing-startup-cangaroo-insists-his-company-isnt-a-hoax/

[zsionakides]

@secstate 191183 wrote:

Ha! Just wait for the pogo sticks!!

https://thenextweb.com/tech/2019/05/22/the-ceo-of-pogo-stick-sharing-startup-cangaroo-insists-his-company-isnt-a-hoax/

Or you can just walk.

My kids have one, and to say they have a high learning curve would be an understatement.

[huskerdont]

When you have to insist that your company isn’t a hoax, you might have gone a niche too far.

My idea: e-stilts.

[ChristoB50]

@huskerdont 191248 wrote:

When you have to insist that your company isn’t a hoax, you might have gone a niche too far.

My idea: e-stilts.

Rollerblading can be so hard! I’m thinking this could be the next great shared-transport opportunity ripe for some “disruption” — imagine if you had some powered boost when you needed it (hey, you can control the amount thrust while using an app on your phone; you don’t really need to watch the road ahead; we’ll build in some obstacle-avoiding tech!) and perhaps add some micro suspension for those buckled bits of trail pavement… When your done, just tie the laces together and toss them over the nearest power lines for the next user!

[Author]

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