My Most Joyful Morning ever - Austin Scooters Burning! (quality of life, live)

[austin-steve]

This morning, scanning the "news", I found this on Statesman.
https://www.statesman.com/news/20190...-fire-downtown

A trailer loaded with scooters going up in flames because the portable generator used to recharge them (how environmentally friendly is that - a pollution belching gas generator running constantly to charge electric scooter on a trailer being pulled by a pickup truck) caught fire. Throw in some lithium ion batteries and "phooopph!" Watch the video and feel the same joy I felt.

I hate scooters. The City of Austin should ban them entirely. My younger daughter just moved the NYC and they are entirely banned there. None in sight. Such a joy to walk around. In Austin they are like cockroaching infesting the sidewalks and streets. And our genius political leaders just let it happen. But at least they are "not going to do business with Arkansas". How about they focus on the quality of life right here, where we live.

Last halloween, I considered dressing up as a "Stupid, Idiotic Moron". No costume needed, I would just ride a scooter in a lane of traffic down SoCo while talking on my cell phone and ignoring red lights, occassionally hopping up on the sidewalk, then leave it laying in the way somewhere.

Is it possible to create a petition to get rid of these things?

[Ole Texan]

Originally Posted by austin-steve

This morning, scanning the "news", I found this on Statesman.
https://www.statesman.com/news/20190...-fire-downtown

A trailer loaded with scooters going up in flames because the portable generator used to recharge them (how environmentally friendly is that - a pollution belching gas generator running constantly to charge electric scooter on a trailer being pulled by a pickup truck) caught fire. Throw in some lithium ion batteries and "phooopph!" Watch the video and feel the same joy I felt.

I hate scooters. The City of Austin should ban them entirely. My younger daughter just moved the NYC and they are entirely banned there. None in sight. Such a joy to walk around. In Austin they are like cockroaching infesting the sidewalks and streets. And our genius political leaders just let it happen. But at least they are "not going to do business with Arkansas". How about they focus on the quality of life right here, where we live.

Last halloween, I considered dressing up as a "Stupid, Idiotic Moron". No costume needed, I would just ride a scooter in a lane of traffic down SoCo while talking on my cell phone and ignoring red lights, occassionally hopping up on the sidewalk, then leave it laying in the way somewhere.

Is it possible to create a petition to get rid of these things?

Wow such joy at someone’s loss. Good old boy Texas Christian attitude. On a Sunday morning no less.

[Need4Camaro]

Originally Posted by Ole Texan

Wow such joy at someone’s loss. Good old boy Texas Christian attitude. On a Sunday morning no less.

lol

[10scoachrick]

Doing the usual Mellow Johnny's bike ride last week, it was hard not to notice the number of scooters and "bikes"(whatever those are) lying all over the sidewalks and many half into the street. Seriously junky, not to mention dangerous.

The riding style/ability of the various riders is another kettle o' fish. Reminds me of early skateboard days.

[10scoachrick]

Originally Posted by Ole Texan

Wow such joy at someone’s loss. Good old boy Texas Christian attitude. On a Sunday morning no less.

Sometimes you gotta break a few eggs...

[austin-steve]

Originally Posted by Ole Texan

Wow such joy at someone’s loss. Good old boy Texas Christian attitude. On a Sunday morning no less.

Why would you assume I'm Christian, or that I care about "Sunday"? And, it's not "someone's loss", it's a big corporation that brazenly and preemptively dumps these scooters in cities across the US without permission. Regardless, I doubt you'd see Jesus riding one of these things if he was around.

I do care about safety, quality of life, aesthetics, and a well governed city in which to reside. An event like this is a good thing. It hopefully represents one more step toward getting serious attention on the issue and tighter restrictions or an outright ban.

I also saw that another idiot was seriously injured on a scooter downtown today. I don't wish for that for anyone, no matter how stupid they are, but it doesn't surprise me. There will be more injuries and deaths as long as these ridiculous devices are allowed by our City Council to be used on our streets and sidewalks of Austin.

[cBach]

Originally Posted by Ole Texan

Wow such joy at someone’s loss. Good old boy Texas Christian attitude. On a Sunday morning no less.

Yeah I've noticed he's gotten more bitter as time goes on. Nobody should want such a catastrophe to occur.

I think the scooters are a good way to get around. It's hot, if you're on a scooter you don't sweat walking around, you get a nice breeze. It makes sense here.

[Trainwreck20]

Originally Posted by cBach

Yeah I've noticed he's gotten more bitter as time goes on. Nobody should want such a catastrophe to occur.

I think the scooters are a good way to get around. It's hot, if you're on a scooter you don't sweat walking around, you get a nice breeze. It makes sense here.

I have no problem with the concept, but in practice they are quite annoying. It isn't the scooters, it is the people on them that can be amazingly rude and inconsiderate - both while riding and then while ditching them. Aesthetically, it would be nice if they weren't painted garish colors, but I suppose they really want them to be seen.

[riaelise]

the scooters themselves aren't annoying, it's the damn users. Leaving them anywhere and everywhere, impeding pedestrians. Going down lanes used by cars at 10 mph. expecting me, the pedestrian, to move out of their way (yeah right.)

there's so many of them that they're clogging up streets and walkways. there needs to be a limit.

and wth are we that lazy as a society that we can't walk a few damn blocks?

[austin-steve]

Originally Posted by cBach

Yeah I've noticed he's gotten more bitter as time goes on. Nobody should want such a catastrophe to occur.
...

Hmmm, I don't feel any different. But you could be right, I am getting older after all.

I've always had a "critical observer" streak, especially when it comes to the absurdities of Austin, my profession and life in general. And it's been quite a long time since I've receive an infraction from CD.

I don't consider 20 scooters going up in smoke a "catastrophe", but rather a good morning. Nobody was hurt. I thought it was delicious irony if anything, a metaphor for what Austin has become. But I suppose it could be seen as mean and uncaring.

Your comment is duly noted. I shall endeavor to be nicer when possible.