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The scooters were never abandoned. They had GPS and a whole network of people to service them. At best they were "mislaid". See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lo

The scooters were never abandoned. They had GPS and a whole network of people to service them. At best they were "mislaid". See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lost,_mislaid,_and_abandoned_property https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lost,_mislaid,_and_abandoned_p... Dumping scooters in the street is much more akin to a public nuisance if you want to get litigious.

s0rce 4y ago
I'd argue its a public good, its an alternate mode of transport that is very useful and reduces the number of car trips and their associated negative externalities. Certainly scooters take up less space than parked cars which seem to have been grandfathered in and getting rid of parking is fiercely opposed.
- dangus 4y ago
  Bicycles are safer: https://newatlas.com/urban-transport/study-e-scooters-injury-rates-motorcycles/ https://newatlas.com/urban-transport/study-e-scooters-injury... Bicycles and even some buses are more environmentally friendly: https://news.ncsu.edu/2019/08/impact-of-e-scooters/ https://news.ncsu.edu/2019/08/impact-of-e-scooters/ Almost half of the trips are replacing healthier and safer walking trips: https://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2021-07-31/e-scooters-replacing-more-walking-and-cycling-trips-than-car-journeys https://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2021-07-31/e-scooters-r... I haven’t even mentioned the rental prices, which are crazy high compared to a public bus ride. On top of that, scooters left on sidewalks are ugly and invade public space. I’m fine with people using scooters but they should have to own and take care of them, and if scooter sharing companies are operating they should be required to ensure they are left in proper places or perhaps in designated docks. They shouldn’t be effectively stealing public land for their for-profit service.
  - corrral 4y ago
    > I’m fine with people using scooters but they should have to own and take care of them, and if scooter sharing companies are operating they should be required to ensure they are left in proper places or perhaps in designated docks. They shouldn’t be effectively stealing public land for their for-profit service. Exactly this. If they'd paid for land to install racks/docks and taken measures to ensure the scooters ended up there, or partnered with local governments to create same (as in municipal bike rental racks) I'd have no problem with it. It's completely bizarre to me that it's fine to leave your crap all over the public sidewalk as long as you're a company with a scheme to make money off it.
ThunderSizzle 4y ago
Throwing something on the curb is the same as abandoning it, at least at most cities I've been in. Completely fair game. Just because it has GPS in it doesn't mean it wasn't abandoned
corrral 4y ago
How are people to know this? Stickers on them, sure, but anyone can attach a sticker saying anything on whatever they like, so how legitimate is that? Can I just toss all kinds of shit on the sidewalk if I attach a sticker first saying that it's cool and other people shouldn't mess with it? If they do mess with it, is that theft or vandalism? Doesn't seem like it ought to be. Seems more like I ought to have a fine coming my way, regardless of what happens to the junk I left lying around or what kinds of words I put on it first. I'd not have known WTF these were when they showed up in my city, if not for reading HN. They look like a company intentionally littering all over public spaces.
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]

s0rce 4y ago

I'd argue its a public good, its an alternate mode of transport that is very useful and reduces the number of car trips and their associated negative externalities. Certainly scooters take up less space than parked cars which seem to have been grandfathered in and getting rid of parking is fiercely opposed.

dangus 4y ago
Bicycles are safer: https://newatlas.com/urban-transport/study-e-scooters-injury-rates-motorcycles/ https://newatlas.com/urban-transport/study-e-scooters-injury... Bicycles and even some buses are more environmentally friendly: https://news.ncsu.edu/2019/08/impact-of-e-scooters/ https://news.ncsu.edu/2019/08/impact-of-e-scooters/ Almost half of the trips are replacing healthier and safer walking trips: https://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2021-07-31/e-scooters-replacing-more-walking-and-cycling-trips-than-car-journeys https://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2021-07-31/e-scooters-r... I haven’t even mentioned the rental prices, which are crazy high compared to a public bus ride. On top of that, scooters left on sidewalks are ugly and invade public space. I’m fine with people using scooters but they should have to own and take care of them, and if scooter sharing companies are operating they should be required to ensure they are left in proper places or perhaps in designated docks. They shouldn’t be effectively stealing public land for their for-profit service.
- corrral 4y ago
  > I’m fine with people using scooters but they should have to own and take care of them, and if scooter sharing companies are operating they should be required to ensure they are left in proper places or perhaps in designated docks. They shouldn’t be effectively stealing public land for their for-profit service. Exactly this. If they'd paid for land to install racks/docks and taken measures to ensure the scooters ended up there, or partnered with local governments to create same (as in municipal bike rental racks) I'd have no problem with it. It's completely bizarre to me that it's fine to leave your crap all over the public sidewalk as long as you're a company with a scheme to make money off it.

ThunderSizzle 4y ago

Throwing something on the curb is the same as abandoning it, at least at most cities I've been in. Completely fair game. Just because it has GPS in it doesn't mean it wasn't abandoned

corrral 4y ago

How are people to know this? Stickers on them, sure, but anyone can attach a sticker saying anything on whatever they like, so how legitimate is that? Can I just toss all kinds of shit on the sidewalk if I attach a sticker first saying that it's cool and other people shouldn't mess with it? If they do mess with it, is that theft or vandalism? Doesn't seem like it ought to be. Seems more like I ought to have a fine coming my way, regardless of what happens to the junk I left lying around or what kinds of words I put on it first. I'd not have known WTF these were when they showed up in my city, if not for reading HN. They look like a company intentionally littering all over public spaces.

deleted 4y ago
[deleted]