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The problem with setting up "stations" for the scooters as well is that it takes away the flexibility of being able to travel directly to your destination. Currently, the downfall of a docked system such as the bike share system that Raleigh is about to launch is that you can ride to a station but still have to walk to your final destination. Or there might not even be a station close to your destination! Those are some issues that the scooters can fill in for those who a docked system might not work out well for. Currently, the Raleigh city council proposes suggests not allowing scooter parking where there isn't a sidewalk, which is a lot of residential neighborhoods.
I do think that it'll be good to set up parking spots for really popular destinations - you can easily take away one parking spot for a whole bunch of scooters to reduce the clutter. Just don't think it should be mandatory, just encouraged where it is available.
I get this, and from a practical perspective, I agree.
A "possible" solution is to set up many drop zones. Think about Domino's new ad campaign where they have Pizza delivery zones. The same concept could be used for dropping and finding scooters. It eliminates the cost and restrictiveness of docking stations, but also allows them to be "almost anywhere". I mean, they could put these things on every third street-corner, or whatever, and could paint some lines (with city approval) so they are not scattered everywhere.
I'm not saying this is THE solution, but with a little creativity the problem can be mostly solved. We nust need to see what the needs of the company are, and the needs of the city, and ESPECIALLY the needs of the users. It takes a little extra work, but a mutually beneficial compromise to call can be found.
The problem with setting up "stations" for the scooters as well is that it takes away the flexibility of being able to travel directly to your destination. Currently, the downfall of a docked system such as the bike share system that Raleigh is about to launch is that you can ride to a station but still have to walk to your final destination. Or there might not even be a station close to your destination! Those are some issues that the scooters can fill in for those who a docked system might not work out well for. Currently, the Raleigh city council proposes suggests not allowing scooter parking where there isn't a sidewalk, which is a lot of residential neighborhoods.
I do think that it'll be good to set up parking spots for really popular destinations - you can easily take away one parking spot for a whole bunch of scooters to reduce the clutter. Just don't think it should be mandatory, just encouraged where it is available.
If people would do this and not leave them in the middle of the sidewalk where we have to dodge them that’s be fine. But when I have to jump over hurdles to go on a walk it’s a problem. And I can’t imagine any in a wheelchair can possibly get around them when parked on the sidewalk. So unless people can use them responsibly they need more regulation on where they can and cannot be parked.
I get this, and from a practical perspective, I agree.
A "possible" solution is to set up many drop zones. Think about Domino's new ad campaign where they have Pizza delivery zones. The same concept could be used for dropping and finding scooters. It eliminates the cost and restrictiveness of docking stations, but also allows them to be "almost anywhere". I mean, they could put these things on every third street-corner, or whatever, and could paint some lines (with city approval) so they are not scattered everywhere.
I'm not saying this is THE solution, but with a little creativity the problem can be mostly solved. We nust need to see what the needs of the company are, and the needs of the city, and ESPECIALLY the needs of the users. It takes a little extra work, but a mutually beneficial compromise to call can be found.
I think there's some interest in doing that here in Raleigh. People are waiting for city council to officially give their blessing though before putting the paint down.
I was driving through downtown Friday afternoon. I saw dozens of them parked along the sidewalks in ways that impeded foot traffic. Only saw 2-3 parked in a thoughtful manner.
I saw over a dozen being used or in the process of beginning to be used. No one had a helmet. Everyone was zipping along on the sidewalks. These scooters were going fast, weaving around pedestrians, many of whom appeared quite startled. One person was a recognizable adult who was setting up his (possible) elementary aged daughter on her own scooter. The rest appeared between 14 - 21.
For a company to simply dump this number of vehicles into a situation with:
* no warning of the municipality
*no docking system
*no monitoring of safety concerns
is simply irresponsible, greedy and lacking in basic good neighbor ethics.
The scooter company creates situations which may need governance in every city they dump the things in. Since they lacked the maturity to begin dialogue before creating the situation it seems that legal action may be the only way to get their attention and cooperation.
If people would do this and not leave them in the middle of the sidewalk where we have to dodge them that’s be fine. But when I have to jump over hurdles to go on a walk it’s a problem. And I can’t imagine any in a wheelchair can possibly get around them when parked on the sidewalk. So unless people can use them responsibly they need more regulation on where they can and cannot be parked.
That really seems like exaggeration but ok...
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