Speaking of where scooters do and do not belong:
Photo: Josie Norris /San Antonio Express-News
Dockless electric scooters can’t be ridden on San Antonio sidewalks, per a new City ordinance that went into effect Monday, but many say they’re concerned about how well it will be enforced.
The new prohibition on sidewalk use comes a full year after rented e-scooters first arrived in San Antonio. It took months to arrive at the point where the City Council deemed riding on the sidewalk enough of a nuisance to move them off pedestrian rights-of-way and onto the street. But even though violating that law is a Class C misdemeanor that can carry as much as a $500 fine, some in the city are not sure that will be enough to deter violators.
[…]
Capt. Chris Benavides, with the San Antonio Police Department, said the sidewalk riding ban will begin with a 30-day grace period in which violators will be issued warnings about the new rule rather than citations. On Aug. 1, Benavides said, police officers will begin issuing citations in situations that call for them.
“The entire month of July will be used as an educational piece where we will issue written or verbal warnings for riding on the sidewalk,” he said.
“What we hope for is that the riders are mindful … that we’re able to work together to share that road and they’re aware of their surroundings.”
Gotta say, I appreciate San Antonio acting as beta testers for Houston’s eventual scooter experience. For sure, scooters – like bicycles – don’t belong on sidewalks, where they can endanger pedestrians. The enforcement issue can sort itself out; it’s my belief that plenty of scooter riders will now stay off the sidewalk just because it’s the law. As the story notes, there was a bill filed that would have banned scooters on sidewalks statewide, as well as capping their speed at 15 MPH (same as what the Houston commission recommended), and other things. This made it through the Senate but never got a hearing in the House. I feel like this should be a local issue, but at least this bill doesn’t appear to have done anything egregious. As with ridesharing, don’t be surprised to see this come up again in two years.
Good for them, they are a pain as I had to dodge them when I recently visited the Mall in D.C. not the fourth and certainly would not do anything that would add a body to where the Russian Cheeto is lying.
My spouse works in downtown San Antonio and the scooters seemed to appear overnight. The first time I was downtown after their debut it was a busy fall weekend and as a pedestrian they whizzed around you on sidewalks and at crosswalks it was crazy–while waiting for a walk signal you had to be wary of riders crossing the perpendicular street while waiting.
I think the novelty has worn off since there are fewer riders utilizing them when I happen to be downtown and except for the newest company to get in on the action, a lot of the scooters definitely seem worse for wear which. If the new ordinances are enforced (no riders under 16, no multiple riders on scooters) that will also help along with the use of bike lanes (not very many in DT SA though, so riding in already tight lanes with cars will undoubtedly deter more joyriders).
I do not know they are making money–somehow they must be collecting data on users or maybe they are still operating on VC funds. Some women I work with were talking about getting set up with Lime to collect and charge the discarded scooters in the evening, then the people who charge them put them back in designated places in the morning. So it is definitely a “gig” economy addition since the company pays others to maintain them.
My spouse works in downtown San Antonio and the scooters seemed to appear overnight. The first time I was downtown after their debut it was a busy fall weekend and as a pedestrian they whizzed around you on sidewalks and at crosswalks it was crazy–while waiting for a walk signal you had to be wary of riders crossing the perpendicular street while waiting.
I think the novelty has worn off since there are fewer riders utilizing them when I happen to be downtown and except for the newest company to get in on the action, a lot of the scooters definitely seem worse for wear which. If the new ordinances are enforced (no riders under 16, no multiple riders on scooters) that will also help along with the use of bike lanes (not very many in DT SA though, so riding in already tight lanes with cars will undoubtedly deter more joyriders).
I do not know how they are making money–somehow they must be collecting data on users or maybe they are still operating on VC funds. Some women I work with were talking about getting set up with Lime to collect and charge the discarded scooters in the evening, then the people who charge them put them back in designated places in the morning. So it is definitely a “gig” economy addition since the company pays others to maintain them.
Electric golf carts have existed for ages. Why are there so many electric motors these days. In cars, but also on bicycles, and skateboards, and scooters, and these giant wheels that people ride.