LA leader says people are leaving their dockless bikes ‘strewn about’ in the city. (Los Angeles: rental, how much)

[Dunbar42]

Originally Posted by Exitus Acta Probat

But when an elderly or handicapped person can't get around one of these scooters with their own scooter, walker, or wheelchair, that's not particularly considerate. Perhaps some of the hipsters using these scooters need to put down their smartphones and notice others outside of their immediate social circles.

I live in Santa Monica and haven’t seen that myself. The scooters have a pretty slim profile compared to a bicycle for example and I see plenty of bikes parked on the sidewalk (at city provided bike parking).

[BlinkingBlythe]

Originally Posted by Xanathos

This is what happened up in Seattle, too. You'd find these things just laying on peoples' yards, at busy intersections, thrown into fountains. My personal favorite was seeing one up in a telephone pole.

Funny thing is, I could count on one hand the amount of times I ever actually saw someone riding one.

Aren't these bikes rented/tied to somebody's credit card like the "Hulu" or "Metro" bikes in L.A? Some of these cases sound like good 'ol fashioned vandalism by people finding the bikes, not the ones renting them.

[BlinkingBlythe]

Originally Posted by Dunbar42

I live in Santa Monica and haven’t seen that myself. The scooters have a pretty slim profile compared to a bicycle for example and I see plenty of bikes parked on the sidewalk (at city provided bike parking).

I've seen them just left on the sidewalk in Santa Monica many times. They are GPS monitored, and the scooters have this fact prominently displayed on them. I don't see them hanging around long in the same spot, so the company renting them out likely collects them on a frequent basis.

[Dunbar42]

Originally Posted by BlinkingBlythe

Aren't these bikes rented/tied to somebody's credit card like the "Hulu" or "Metro" bikes in L.A? Some of these cases sound like good 'ol fashioned vandalism by people finding the bikes, not the ones renting them.

The Santa Monica bike share bikes are tied to an account with a credit card number on file. That’s why I have never seen them unlocked “strewn about” since they would just charge your credit card for lost or damaged bikes. You can lock them up out of network but it costs extra so most people end up dropping them off at an in-network bike rack. Perhaps the city of LA has a different bike share arrangement but whole thread reads like a bunch of cranky people who have a strong opinion about something that they have no experience with.

Originally Posted by BlinkingBlythe

I've seen them just left on the sidewalk in Santa Monica many times. They are GPS monitored, and the scooters have this fact prominently displayed on them. I don't see them hanging around long in the same spot, so the company renting them out likely collects them on a frequent basis.

You’re supposed to leave them on the sidewalk. Just not in such a way that it obstructs traffic flow. I don’t really understand the complaints since people routinely park their bikes to city provided bike parking infrastructure in a very similar way.

[Exitus Acta Probat]

Originally Posted by Dunbar42

I live in Santa Monica and haven’t seen that myself. The scooters have a pretty slim profile compared to a bicycle for example and I see plenty of bikes parked on the sidewalk (at city provided bike parking).

I've found three of four of them blocking the sidewalk on residential streets, around the area of Wilshire/Berkeley.

[Dunbar42]

Originally Posted by Exitus Acta Probat

I've found three of four of them blocking the sidewalk on residential streets, around the area of Wilshire/Berkeley.

I live by Lincoln and Wilshire and have seen tons of Bird scooters parked on the sidewalk but never in a way that obstructs the pedestrian traffic flow. The scooters are so narrow that you’d basically have to park them in the middle of the sidewalk to obstruct pedestrians. Most users seem to understand that they need to be parked on either side of the sidewalk but not in the middle...

[Mike121]

You know, one might also notice that people leave their private automobiles parked all over the city. Every block has dozens of cars just parked on the street.

But parking your car wherever you want is a way of life here. It is so normal we don't notice it, and we're used to it.

But a bicycle left on the sidewalk, that is an outrage. haha

[Exitus Acta Probat]

Originally Posted by Mike121

You know, one might also notice that people leave their private automobiles parked all over the city. Every block has dozens of cars just parked on the street.

But parking your car wherever you want is a way of life here. It is so normal we don't notice it, and we're used to it.

But a bicycle left on the sidewalk, that is an outrage. haha

I don't know how many people with limited mobility have a need to travel down a street where cars park, but they certainly have a need to use the sidewalks.

[Mike121]

Originally Posted by Exitus Acta Probat

I don't know how many people with limited mobility have a need to travel down a street where cars park, but they certainly have a need to use the sidewalks.

Exitus, it is very unlike you to stick up for pedestrians. I thought you said that anyone who didn't have a car didn't deserve to be in Los Angeles.


I'm glad to see you've become so compassionate.

[Exitus Acta Probat]

Originally Posted by Mike121

Exitus, it is very unlike you to stick up for pedestrians. I thought you said that anyone who didn't have a car didn't deserve to be in Los Angeles.

FALSE. Please do not attribute fallacious quotes to me.