If e-scooters are a major problem, we should ban them. According to one report, these devices are increasing the number of deaths in LA. In addition, they lack adequate safety gear and are catching fire on public transportation. But if these scooters are the best way to get around LA, they should be legal. The next time you’re out for a walk, consider a ride on one of these electric scooters.
e-scooters increase the amount of deaths in LA
New studies show that e-scooters increase the number of fatalities in Los Angeles. While the study was limited to UCLA Health facilities, the results are similar to those of other small regional studies. Pedestrians and motorists alike are at risk of tripping over e-scooters, resulting in injuries and deaths. Even minor injuries aren’t being treated by doctors.
Those fatalities have been attributed to motor vehicle crashes and single-vehicle accidents, but the injuries that scooter riders sustain are often more preventable. According to a UCLA study, 80 percent of injuries are the result of falling off a scooter. If scooter infrastructure is improved, riders will be protected from motor vehicles and pedestrians. But how do we fix these issues? What can be done to reduce injuries and fatalities caused by electric scooters?
One of the ways to reduce fatalities from electric scooters is to change the road design. Electric scooter riders must ride in bike lanes on over-25 mph streets. But many major LA traffic corridors don’t have bike lanes, and fewer have protected lanes. Kaufman’s group has long sought to change this. Although Koretz agrees that less auto-centric infrastructure would be beneficial to riders, he argues that political realities make such changes impossible.
The number of accidents caused by electric scooters is on the rise. According to the latest study, e-scooters are causing more injuries than motorcycles. In fact, their rate of injuries is similar to that of motorcycles and passenger vehicles. And a recent study at UCLA analyzed more than a million clinical notes. They found that 30 percent of electric scooter accident victims were treated in more than one clinical setting. Moreover, 29% of them required advanced imaging and 6% were treated in a hospital.
They don’t provide safety gear
It’s important to ban e-scooters in cities, towns, and communities, because these vehicles are extremely dangerous. In addition to not providing any safety gear to riders, e-scooters don’t even come with a helmet. That means riders are more likely to get into a collision and suffer serious injuries or death, as well as injuring themselves in the process.
While e-scooters can be used by adults and teens, laws restricting their use should be implemented. For example, riders should be 18 years old and have a driver’s license to operate one. Also, they should always wear a helmet. In addition, these devices should be banned from sidewalk riding and should require riders to wear helmets. Further, these scooters should be prohibited from parking on sidewalks and should have lights and kickstands to alert pedestrians and drivers of impending danger.
While these products are not completely safe, they aren’t all the same. In fact, one personal injury attorney said that he had spoken to 400 scooter victims in the past 18 months. In his research, he found that e-scooters have a higher accident rate than bikes, due to their smaller wheels and unstable centers of gravity. As such, cities need to regulate the rollout of these devices and ban scooter operators, who may be causing more injuries than they should.
They are illegal in some cities
Electric scooters are a recent fad that has many people excited about the convenience they offer, but they’re still illegal in some cities. In June, Nashville’s mayor attempted to ban them, but the Metro Council ruled that the ban was unnecessary. In April, Los Angeles threatened to ban Uber’s scooter company Jump, but the initial roll-out was overwhelmingly positive. While it’s important to follow local rules when riding a scooter, the first thing you should know is that some cities don’t allow them on sidewalks, so be sure to obey these regulations.
In some cities, electric scooters are illegal, even if you’re over 16 years old. Some cities have regulations in place that limit the speed of the scooters, which means that they can’t be ridden on sidewalks. Another city with strict rules is Columbus, Ohio, which requires riders to be 16 years old to rent an electric scooter. They also must be at least 20 miles per hour and yield to pedestrians. Riding a scooter on a sidewalk is illegal in certain areas of the city, including High St. in the Short North Arts District.
Fortunately, electric scooters are legal in most areas of the United States. Some cities have banned their use on roadways over thirty miles per hour, while others have set the maximum speed limit at 15 mph. The speed limits also vary by city. In the state of Vermont, e-scooters are legal everywhere bicycles are allowed. However, you must be sure to ride in a safe and well-lit area, and be careful to avoid sidewalks and other low-traffic areas.
They are catching fire on public transport
A string of fatal e scooter fires in India have been traced to battery problems. According to an initial investigation by the government, battery failures are the main cause. The government has issued a warning to manufacturers and will perform a forensic investigation to find the exact cause of the fires. The fires are caused by short-circuits in the battery cells, which lead to a spike in current and can reach 200 degrees Fahrenheit.
In a recent incident, an e scooter caught fire on a train in Maharashtra, followed by an incident in Tamil Nadu. The incident was caused by an improperly charged battery, and Super Eco blamed a third party battery vendor in Bangalore. The company supplies the scooter to Sahara Evols, an electric scooter firm of the Sahara Group. The MoRTH has ordered a probe into the incidents and has contacted the Centre for Fire, Explosives and Environmental Safety.
Another recent incident in London on the Tube involved an e-scooter catching fire. The battery malfunction caused passengers to abandon the train, but the scooter continued to burn on the platform. The London Fire Brigade and the TfL Fire Brigade backed the ban, saying the dangers posed by the devices to the public must be addressed. A ban on e-scooters is unlikely to be effective, however, as it would require a ban on all services, including commuter trains.
They shouldn’t be allowed on sidewalks
The City Commission is concerned about the impact that stand-up e-scooters will have on sidewalks and put a 180-day moratorium on new companies from operating in the city. The moratorium is aimed at studying data on traffic safety and capacity of existing sidewalks. While a ban is unlikely, regulating these scooters will help improve safety for pedestrians. Here are the pros and cons of electric scooters on sidewalks:
As electric scooters are considered a form of pollution, they create a huge issue for cities. In Flagstaff, for example, sidewalk space is limited and electric bikes are left parked on sidewalks and streets. Often times they are tipped over and blocked sidewalks, making them a hazard for pedestrians. They can also be hazardous for people with disabilities and pose a serious risk to the public. If you don’t want to be a pedestrian, get a scooter that you can store in a secure garage.
Electric scooters are dangerous because they are unstable and dynamically unstable. Motorized scooters and pedestrians do not mix, and electric scooter riders often cause serious accidents. Also, because they are unregulated and in the pilot phase, it’s difficult to enforce the rules on single scooters. The government is still working on reconciling state and city ordinances. So, if you plan on using an electric scooter on a sidewalk, get a rental scooter with a driver who has experience and knows the city well.
They shouldn’t be sold directly to consumers
The e scooter industry is booming, with Argos and Halfords stocking 15 different models in their kids’ zones. While the products are marketed as toys, the fact is that they contain a high level of personal information. However, the government is under pressure to liberalise regulations and enforce the existing ones. As such, the shadow transport secretary Andy McDonald has called for guidelines on the use of e scooters.
Electric scooters are a big safety concern. Privacy issues are also an issue. These scooters may cause privacy concerns by clogging sidewalks. And because scooter companies have such poor privacy policies, many of them are admitting to disclosing user information. The government needs to be able to protect the privacy of users. By requiring warrants before turning over personal information to government officials, scooter companies can demonstrate they are not violating consumer privacy.
The debate over e scooters should not be limited to just one industry. The issue is part of a larger reckoning about rapid change in our cities. These scooters are forcing us to talk about sidewalk use, street maintenance, and public space ownership. They are also exposing transit deserts and the latent demand for cheap transportation. And this debate needs to be addressed before e scooters become mainstream.
