If you’ve spent any time in downtown Spokane recently, you have probably seen many people zipping by on those green Lime scooters. In my personal observation, more people are using the bikeshare program scooters than the actual bikes and they seem very popular.
But that’s not the case in Seattle. A Seattle Times article says, while the city has embraced bike sharing in general, it has banned dockless scooter-sharing companies.
Both Lime and Bird, the two leading scooter companies, say they’re operating in more than 100 cities now. There are scooter shares not just in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Austin, Texas, but in Portland, Tacoma and Spokane.
Scooter companies and supporters argue they can offer a space-efficient, environmentally friendly, car-reducing way to get around the city. But city officials don’t agree. The Seattle Department of Transportation announced last spring that scooter-share companies aren’t permitted to do business there until the city sets up a permit program, which won’t happen until it sets up a permanent bike-share program. While Seattle’s bike-share program was finalized over the summer, nothing has changed yet on the scooter front.
Mayor Jenny Durkan’s office has cited safety concerns, noting a Washington Post report that scooter-related emergency room visits have spiked in cities after scooter shares come to town. Seattle law also bans scooters from places bikes can go like sidewalks and bike lanes.
One reason commonly cited for scooter popularity: It’s a lot easier in a suit or skirt to ride a stand-up scooter than a bicycle.
Scooters are a popular, easy to use, easy to implement disruptive technology. I’ve seen a bigger shift in non single passenger commutes in the city of Spokane in two weeks than years of bike lane development. It does not surprise me that cities are putting the brakes on this shift in movement to get a piece of the revenue pie. It is disappointing that this swift pause is happening under the false guise of public safety.
Thanks for taking the time to comment James. Since cities at this point aren’t rolling out their own scootershare programs, I’m not sure they’re putting the brakes on it to get in on the revenue game. All the quotes I’ve seen is that there’s not infrastructure for these options at this time or the public education that would make them safer. For instance, I’ve heard many complaints about near misses with speeding scooters on the sidewalks. Are they even supposed to be ridden on sidewalks? Are they allowed in traffic? Most people using them don’t know, resulting in scooters, bikes and pedestrians all jockeying for limited sidewalk space. Plus there is no enforcement at this point. So yes, HUGE shift in mode since Lime came to Spokane but the conversation in the transportation sector is that there are still some things that need to be worked out.
I rode a scooter to try it out. It was fun, but I like bikes better, plus they have baskets for your stuff. I also like the larger wheels on the bikes when going over cracks in the pavement; I don’t feel like I’m about to go flying over the handlebars.
But the bikes aren’t as easy to find, especially the less expensive manual bikes. And when I have found one, it’s had problems. 2 of them (or possibly the same one twice) wouldn’t let the seat adjust. I rode one with the seat all the way down (I’m 5’10”) for half a mile and then I was done because of the thigh burn and strain on my knees, which were at nearly 90 degrees during the upstroke part of pedaling. I just walked back from that point because I didn’t want to ride that bike anymore. Then when I wanted to take a bike again, but it’s seat wouldn’t adjust either, I just left it and walked to my destination.
The other bike I found with a problem wouldn’t unlock.
But I agree that it’s easier to use a scooter in your fancy clothes. I’d probably chose them in that situation too.
Also, people can sign up to charge the scooters, but not the bikes. They probably appeals to the company because it’s less work for them to keep the scooters in supply.
It’s strange the bikes are harder to find though. That first week, there were tons of bikes, especially the manual ones. Now there are like 3 manual bikes….
Thanks Rachel. Another staff member and I had the discussion about finding manual bikes yesterday. We were walking through downtown and saw at least a dozen of the others but not a single manual. We didn’t check the app to see if there really weren’t any in the downtown area though. I have refrained from the scooters and E bikes so far because frankly, summer was rough on me and I need exercise. I am all over downtown every day but if I’m not going to get exercise doing it, I’m going to opt to walk for now (at least until I lose a couple pounds).
As for the scooters, ironically one of our Planners hurt herself going over one of those big cracks. She took her weight off the platform part and it swung around and cracked her in the ankle. So I think there’s a learning curve for all of us.
Do you think Lime saw our comments? Hahaha
Yesterday I noticed there are a lot of manual bikes all over now. I took one, and the seat adjusted, and it was a fun ride!
Lol I know, it’s like when you search for something online then all of a sudden your Facebook feed is filled with ads for that item. Kinda scary. Yeah, I’ve been noticing more manual bikes this week too. Glad it worked out for you this time!