5 ms·

They are electronically limited to 20 km/h in Paris and weigh no more than a bicycle.

by fsh 4y ago

bombolo 4y ago
Getting hit by a bycicle at 20km/h can severely injure you.
- FpUser 4y ago
  So prohibit bikes then? I think government is more concerned about scooters competing with paid for transportation and hence reduction of revenue
  - trog 4y ago
    > So prohibit bikes then? I think government is more concerned about scooters competing with paid for transportation and hence reduction of revenue If you read the article you'll see this is based on a decision by the city's residents, 90% of whom voted against keeping them around. The article seems to refer to two main things: "reckless and drunken driving, as well as clutter on pavements". In my Australian city (I think we were the first to legalise them) they are wildly popular but I can attest to both of these things being a huge problem. I literally just walked to grab a snack and on the way back I stepped onto the road and was nearly wiped out by a scooter coming out of nowhere - illegally riding on the road. I have a collection of photos on my phone of scooters being left randomly around the streets, including across the footpath and even on the road in some cases. There is an entire class of people who use these that are just completely selfish fuckwits and do not stop to consider everyone else when they abandon them wherever they finish. I am 100% pro electric scooter. They need to have infrastructure like cars, for parking and storage and riding. My state has just announced pretty harsh laws for riders that violate them but they are not being enforced enough yet.
    - concordDance 4y ago
      > If you read the article you'll see this is based on a decision by the city's residents, 90% of whom voted against keeping them around This is a lie. I don't even need to go look anything up to call 90% turnout a lie. Actual number was probably 7%.
      - deleted 4y ago
        [deleted]
- twelve40 4y ago
  but... nobody seems to be talking about banning bicycles?
  - shtopointo 4y ago
    They are banned from sidewalks.
    - noahtallen 4y ago
      E scooters are just as banned from sidewalks as bikes?
      - jacquesm 4y ago
        There's scooters and scooters. It's a bit of a misnomer but there are electric scooters that are like a Vespa scooter ('Absolute beginners') and there are electric scooters that are the ones that your kid would ride when they're 5 or so (plank with two wheels, you stand on the plank and 'scoot' with your other leg). The e-scooter of the latter variety is what is of concern here, ~20kg + rider moving at ~20kph (sometimes faster). The former is definitely banned from sidewalks (though they are often parked there), the other is used on sidewalks quite frequently, in spite of that not being legal. They have shitty small wheels and are pretty dangerous for both rider and pedestrians.
        twelve40 4y ago
        if 20km/h is a problem, why can't they just mandate a lower limit city-wide. Shared e-scooters are already heavily limited and regulated, physically can't go faster than 10km/h in large chunks of the city center already. Unlike cars or regular bicycles, shared e-scooters can be physically limited to any desired speed with one flip of a central switch. A total ban seems like looking for a scapegoat.
    - goatlover 4y ago
      Yet I see people riding bikes on sidewalks, usually on busy roads without bike lanes. Doubt the police bother ticketing them anymore than they do people riding scooters on sidewalks or without helmets. At least where I’m from.
deanc 4y ago
Practically all their weight is at the base. Your ankles or legs will be shattered if you’re hit by one.
janosdebugs 4y ago
Except bikes have a much larger turn radius and are much more bulky than a scooter. You can zip between people with a scooter no problem, but it is tricky to do with a bike. As someone who ditched a car for a bike, I had several almost-accidents with these things and it was always down to reckless driving and trying to pull stunts on these things.

They are electronically limited to 20 km/h in Paris and weigh no more than a bicycle.

by fsh 4y ago

They are electronically limited to 20 km/h in Paris and weigh no more than a bicycle.

bombolo 4y ago

Getting hit by a bycicle at 20km/h can severely injure you.

FpUser 4y ago
So prohibit bikes then? I think government is more concerned about scooters competing with paid for transportation and hence reduction of revenue
- trog 4y ago
  > So prohibit bikes then? I think government is more concerned about scooters competing with paid for transportation and hence reduction of revenue If you read the article you'll see this is based on a decision by the city's residents, 90% of whom voted against keeping them around. The article seems to refer to two main things: "reckless and drunken driving, as well as clutter on pavements". In my Australian city (I think we were the first to legalise them) they are wildly popular but I can attest to both of these things being a huge problem. I literally just walked to grab a snack and on the way back I stepped onto the road and was nearly wiped out by a scooter coming out of nowhere - illegally riding on the road. I have a collection of photos on my phone of scooters being left randomly around the streets, including across the footpath and even on the road in some cases. There is an entire class of people who use these that are just completely selfish fuckwits and do not stop to consider everyone else when they abandon them wherever they finish. I am 100% pro electric scooter. They need to have infrastructure like cars, for parking and storage and riding. My state has just announced pretty harsh laws for riders that violate them but they are not being enforced enough yet.
  - concordDance 4y ago
    > If you read the article you'll see this is based on a decision by the city's residents, 90% of whom voted against keeping them around This is a lie. I don't even need to go look anything up to call 90% turnout a lie. Actual number was probably 7%.
    - deleted 4y ago
      [deleted]
twelve40 4y ago
but... nobody seems to be talking about banning bicycles?
- shtopointo 4y ago
  They are banned from sidewalks.
  - noahtallen 4y ago
    E scooters are just as banned from sidewalks as bikes?
    - jacquesm 4y ago
      There's scooters and scooters. It's a bit of a misnomer but there are electric scooters that are like a Vespa scooter ('Absolute beginners') and there are electric scooters that are the ones that your kid would ride when they're 5 or so (plank with two wheels, you stand on the plank and 'scoot' with your other leg). The e-scooter of the latter variety is what is of concern here, ~20kg + rider moving at ~20kph (sometimes faster). The former is definitely banned from sidewalks (though they are often parked there), the other is used on sidewalks quite frequently, in spite of that not being legal. They have shitty small wheels and are pretty dangerous for both rider and pedestrians.
      - twelve40 4y ago
        if 20km/h is a problem, why can't they just mandate a lower limit city-wide. Shared e-scooters are already heavily limited and regulated, physically can't go faster than 10km/h in large chunks of the city center already. Unlike cars or regular bicycles, shared e-scooters can be physically limited to any desired speed with one flip of a central switch. A total ban seems like looking for a scapegoat.
  - goatlover 4y ago
    Yet I see people riding bikes on sidewalks, usually on busy roads without bike lanes. Doubt the police bother ticketing them anymore than they do people riding scooters on sidewalks or without helmets. At least where I’m from.

deanc 4y ago

Practically all their weight is at the base. Your ankles or legs will be shattered if you’re hit by one.

janosdebugs 4y ago

Except bikes have a much larger turn radius and are much more bulky than a scooter. You can zip between people with a scooter no problem, but it is tricky to do with a bike. As someone who ditched a car for a bike, I had several almost-accidents with these things and it was always down to reckless driving and trying to pull stunts on these things.