4 ms·

Italy Plans to Crack Down on E-Scooters

11 points by type0 3y ago

NoZebra120vClip 3y ago
I have a love-hate feeling about scooters in the USA. The first deployments of bike and scooter shares were chaotic, disruptive, and had utter disregard for safety and urban aesthetics. I find it hilarious that there are whole Twitter accounts dedicated to Tweeting photos of scooters that someone hucked into the canal, or placed on top of a bus shelter, or smashed into smithereens for no good reason. Scooters were constantly dropped right in the middle of the sidewalks, and for a while I tried to push them out of the way and set them upright, until I realized that's a waste of energy, so I just leave them be. Also, scooters are explicitly not allowed on sidewalks in my town or the surrounding area, yet people exclusively ride them on sidewalks at 17mph and terrorize the people on foot. However, I am also a rider of scooters, and I must say it is quite enjoyable. I do not use a helmet, but I tend to wear protective clothing as much as possible. I ride in the street at all times, as directed by the laws and guidelines. They max out at 17mph, which is obviously slower than traffic, but faster than the sidewalk. I have qualified for "community pricing" which means all my rides are 50% off. There are several staging areas within a few hundred feet of my home, and I can also usually find one where someone has left it, right outside. They're fun and easy for quick, short trips. The shopping mall is within reach, as is a church down the way, or a thrift store (as long as I don't have too much to carry home.) I can ride one-way or I can park and make a round trip, without worrying too much about someone else sniping my ride. It's a workable alternative to public transit in many cases, and it sure beats dealing with all the other janky riders, although I do have to deal with road rage. As for road rage, I got it on one of my first trips. I was riding in a residential street and I was ringing the bell as I enjoy doing (it's also the only audible signal to traffic or pedestrians, so it's an important safety feature.) A fellow on a moped peeled out in front of me, and then slowed down to impede my progress. He turned around and said "you know you're not supposed to ride that in the street?" and I rang the bell. He became irate and began screaming at me, swerving and stopping, he was trying to make me crash into him. He began spitting on my face, continued screaming, for several blocks. When he finally disengaged, I rolled to a stop on the sidewalk and tried to calm down, because I was extremely distressed. That fellow was dangerous and could have caused me bodily harm. But he had given up. I parked the scooter and took a few deep breaths. I was undeterred and I knew that he was wrong and I was right, so I continue to ride the scooters in the street.
- MathMonkeyMan 3y ago
  People do the same thing to bicyclists. I don't know if it's rage at the very obviously outrageous and personal attack that is riding a slower vehicle, or if it's the thinly guised thrill of terrorizing something you deem weaker than yourself. Assholes are assholes. Sometimes you can confront them civily (which has worked once for me), and sometimes you can't. In all cases, it is 100% the asshole's fault.

11 points by type0 3y ago

I have a love-hate feeling about scooters in the USA. The first deployments of bike and scooter shares were chaotic, disruptive, and had utter disregard for safety and urban aesthetics. I find it hilarious that there are whole Twitter accounts dedicated to Tweeting photos of scooters that someone hucked into the canal, or placed on top of a bus shelter, or smashed into smithereens for no good reason. Scooters were constantly dropped right in the middle of the sidewalks, and for a while I tried to push them out of the way and set them upright, until I realized that's a waste of energy, so I just leave them be. Also, scooters are explicitly not allowed on sidewalks in my town or the surrounding area, yet people exclusively ride them on sidewalks at 17mph and terrorize the people on foot. However, I am also a rider of scooters, and I must say it is quite enjoyable. I do not use a helmet, but I tend to wear protective clothing as much as possible. I ride in the street at all times, as directed by the laws and guidelines. They max out at 17mph, which is obviously slower than traffic, but faster than the sidewalk. I have qualified for "community pricing" which means all my rides are 50% off. There are several staging areas within a few hundred feet of my home, and I can also usually find one where someone has left it, right outside. They're fun and easy for quick, short trips. The shopping mall is within reach, as is a church down the way, or a thrift store (as long as I don't have too much to carry home.) I can ride one-way or I can park and make a round trip, without worrying too much about someone else sniping my ride. It's a workable alternative to public transit in many cases, and it sure beats dealing with all the other janky riders, although I do have to deal with road rage. As for road rage, I got it on one of my first trips. I was riding in a residential street and I was ringing the bell as I enjoy doing (it's also the only audible signal to traffic or pedestrians, so it's an important safety feature.) A fellow on a moped peeled out in front of me, and then slowed down to impede my progress. He turned around and said "you know you're not supposed to ride that in the street?" and I rang the bell. He became irate and began screaming at me, swerving and stopping, he was trying to make me crash into him. He began spitting on my face, continued screaming, for several blocks. When he finally disengaged, I rolled to a stop on the sidewalk and tried to calm down, because I was extremely distressed. That fellow was dangerous and could have caused me bodily harm. But he had given up. I parked the scooter and took a few deep breaths. I was undeterred and I knew that he was wrong and I was right, so I continue to ride the scooters in the street.

MathMonkeyMan 3y ago
People do the same thing to bicyclists. I don't know if it's rage at the very obviously outrageous and personal attack that is riding a slower vehicle, or if it's the thinly guised thrill of terrorizing something you deem weaker than yourself. Assholes are assholes. Sometimes you can confront them civily (which has worked once for me), and sometimes you can't. In all cases, it is 100% the asshole's fault.