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I think you're missing the fact that car infrastructure with curbside parking has evolved over decades, and cities have not managed to even provide ample parkin
by wink 4y ago
I think you're missing the fact that car infrastructure with curbside parking has evolved over decades, and cities have not managed to even provide ample parking space for standard bikes, as they have been in use for decades as well. Now these scooters just came into existence and over the course of 5-8 years have managed to clutter everything. They're not individuals' property (who would pick them up later) but they're owned and operated by a for-profit company and just being dropped anywhere by people. That's what makes it so very different.
Not that I have a good solution for this, but we have some bikes by the local public transport org, and they have dedicated "parking stations" - if there were more of those (and the bikes wouldn't be more expensive than other rental bikes), or if they'd just nab a few car parking spaces for it.. then it would be nicer. Yes, it is very convenient to leave your scooter next to your door, but I don't think it would be outrageous to walk the last 200m.
- elric 4y agoIt's true that infrastructure has evolved over decades. Though bicycles predate cars, and for various reasons we (as a society) decided to fuck bicycles and pander to cars. I'm not sure if the ownership vs rental argument holds much water. Bicycles routinely litter the kerb (and every other surface imaginable), even though they are usually owned rather than rented. Perhaps it's because they're relatively cheap? Or maybe it's an infrastructure problem after all?
- wink 4y agoMaybe it depends what you see as "littering" - when I'm talking the city center here, without bike racks, people 99% line them up against the walls of the houses, or lock them on to streets signs, which are usually ~30cm from the curb next to the cars. I honestly can't remember when an actual non-rental, personal bike was in my way, so does not seem to be problem here, at all. If you define "they're all standing there", well, ok :P
- elric 4y agoI guess that depends on where you live, which takes us back to this being an infrastructure problem after all. Where I live, if you're lucky, the kerb is 1m wide, and half of that width is often occupied by bikes (or scooters). Making things difficult for pedestrians, and impossible for wheelchair users.
- alistairSH 4y agoPretty simple solution to the parking problem… repurpose one street parking space per block from a car to several bikes/scooters.