AaronFW wrote:
Nanohedron wrote:
I'll only use the scooter's top speed to escape from hungry bears, marauding Juggalos, or the like. I promise.

Does the twin cities have a lot of hungry bears and marauding Juggalos?
Oh, my goodness, yes. Scads of 'em, and they're peevish on a good day. You'd think they'd eat and chop each other up at least some of the time, but no. It's like they've got this gentleman's agreement or something, so no rest for us. And if you ever hear the words "a murder of crows" around here, trust me: run for cover, because ours go right for the eyes. Put simply, even getting groceries is going to be an ultimate-stakes contact sport. It's Armageddon out there. But we console ourselves with the belief that along with our hellish, bone-breaking winters and mosquitoes the size of parakeets, it keeps out the riffraff. It's not all bad; at least we have recycling.
I see that in the meantime over in California, there's a public anti-e-scooter backlash:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/compani ... ar-BBLLykOIt should be noted first that this is in the main about rentals, and unlike here, they've had over a year for this to come to a head. The reasons appear chiefly twofold: One is most understandable and brought on by the users themselves who abandon rented units wherever they like, not even left propped up but lying down, for all the world like litter. Now, would you like having to live with that? Didn't think so. Me neither. I've seen a foretaste of it here, too, and I totally get the objection to it. There's no question that the rental companies are at the root of the problem due to a business model that endorses the practice: basically, it's "Leave it where you like; we'll come and get it (what's unsaid is, 'sooner of later - who knows when')." Apparently there's GPS involved. And indeed, what could be more attractive to the rental customer? They're not going to see retrieval promptness as any of their concern. I also think the fallout might have been predicted, but at least we've got hindsight. The other reason, though, is less easy for me to credit: There is a faction that sees e-scooters as part of a spreading gentrification that is suffocating local surfing culture. I would have assumed the surfing world to be robust enough to withstand the pressure, but if it actually isn't, then I can understand this objection up to a point, but my understanding ends where the vandalism begins. In environmental terms alone, burning battery-powered scooters and throwing them into the sea are hardly commendable choices, even less so when you're fueled by an eco-friendly breakfast of granola and kombucha. The irony, as they say, abounds. Not that I'm unsympathetic, but if surfing culture can't hold its own, then instead of trashing property, perhaps it should look to itself for the reasons why. Just a thought.
The really unfortunate part is that by extension, responsible owners will be seen as part of the problem, simply because they're riding.
It's hard for me to foresee a culturally-based backlash in my neck of the woods, but a backlash at irresponsible use is very understandable, and I would totally be on board with that. The solution with Big Rental, to me, is clear. I can make all the pious noises I want about responsible use and good manners, but we all know far too well the value of that currency these days. And even if the users did prop up their left-behind scooters all nice and tidy, they're still abandoned scooters, and the more abandoned scooters, the more the whole thing looks like a blight, and when they're lying down and in the way, it's an even bigger blight yet. I get it. So the only answer is that those rental companies must amend their business model, because the present one only encourages customer indifference to their impositions on others and to the landscape; instead, when they're done with their fun, let the customer leave the unit at any designated drop-off point or face a penalty on their credit card, and preferably a stiff one. $25 sounds about right. Without such a change those companies may very well have no future here in the Twin Cities. To be honest, I would have no objection whatsoever if the corporate likes of Lime and Bird were prohibited here should they prove unwilling to change; if there are to be rentals, then let them be got at your local mom-and-pop shops. I'm very parochial that way, and make no apologies for it.
It's this very eventuality that has been part of my reasoning in wanting a foldable unit, which I can keep reasonably out of everyone's way when not in use. I really think it's a very important consideration for those who would own for purposes other than recreation.
I think I'm about ready to order one. Next comes the hate.