Let’s talk about e scooters

[Oldtowner]

Looking for an E-scooter? Try the Potomac.

https://slate.com/technology/2018/12/electric-scooter-bird-lime-lakes-rivers-environment-vandalism.html

[jonkislin]

I’ve taken about 10 e-scooter trips since moving to DC in September. I have to say, as far as a last minute option when trying to transfer from the red line to the silver line in Downtown DC, they’re a nice little addition to the commute. I’ve also used them while museum hopping with friends.

As I saw before in the thread “two wheels good” sums up my opinion. If they can replace short-distance lyft/uber rides (assuming the riders are sober) I’m all for it.

[dasgeh]

@jonkislin 184200 wrote:

I’ve taken about 10 e-scooter trips since moving to DC in September. I have to say, as far as a last minute option when trying to transfer from the red line to the silver line in Downtown DC, they’re a nice little addition to the commute. I’ve also used them while museum hopping with friends.

As I saw before in the thread “two wheels good” sums up my opinion. If they can replace short-distance lyft/uber rides (assuming the riders are sober) I’m all for it.

Definitely tell powers that be about your experience and opinion. A quick email to mobility@arlingtonva.us will help support scooters in Arlington.

[Lt. Dan]

I’m a contract repair person for Bird- The things some people do to these scooters borders on impressive… LOL

[LeprosyStudyGroup]

There were several parts of one sticking out of a trash can by the WW2 memorial this morning like calamari legs. Gave me a chuckle.

[obscurerichard]

I like the concept of there being another electric transportation option that may reduce car trips out there. I got to try a scooter a few weeks ago when there were no bikes to be found where I was, and it was fun, if a little frustrating since the speed was clearly throttled down. That’s probably for the best.

However, they are heavy and I whacked my ankle pretty good when I was trying to swing it off a curb.

[Dewey]

The Virginia Bicycling Federation reported e-scooters were discussed yesterday in the Virginia General Assembly, House Transportation Committee. HB2752 “with lobbyists representing both Bird & Lime speaking in favor and law enforcement and other officials from Arlington, Alexandria, & Charlottesvile asking for the bill to be tabled until their in-progress Pilot Projects are completed and digested. Despite those requests, the bill was reported on to the full Trans Comm by a 7-3 vote, and the prevailing discussion seemed to be that the scooters would be permitted only on bike lanes, trails and sidewalks, and that all jurisdictions would have the authority to pass ordinances banning them from their sidewalks , if they chose to do so, which must have been the part that the Bird rep was unhappy with.

When we had a chance to look the language over after the meeting, it appears that the scooters will also be permitted on the highway, but not capable of moving at more than 20 mph. There seem to be enough unresolved questions here, and it was obvious that the Bird representative did not get what he wanted, so these questions will be discussed and clarified at the next steps in the process, and we will be anxious to see that they don’t result in any restrictions that spill over to the bicyclists.”(*)

(*) my comment…or to e-bikes which are currently permitted to ride on sidewalks in Virginia.

[peterw_diy]

Was the January 17 text amended?

The January 17 text only allowed banning scooters on sidewalks the way current law allows banning bikes – when the jurisdiction “conspicuously” posts signage. At least in Alexandria, City staff seem very reluctant to do that.

The rules about operating on roads (“highways”) are interesting – no scooters on the road where the speed limit is > 25, and even on roads <= 25, the scooters must be ridden on the sidewalk if there's no bike lane, unless scooters are banned from the sidewalk. I imagine this won't go over well with either scooter operators or pedestrians. Also noteworthy: scooters would be required to have rear reflectors but, unlike bikes, not tail lights, even though the reflectors would be so low to the ground that I question their effectiveness (and the likelihood that they’d stay clean enough to be effective), and even though rental scooters have power supplies so they would only need to add relatively cheap LEDs to get active rear lighting.

[mstone]

@peterw_diy 186466 wrote:

The rules about operating on roads (“highways”) are interesting – no scooters on the road where the speed limit is > 25, and even on roads <= 25, the scooters must be ridden on the sidewalk if there's no bike lane, unless scooters are banned from the sidewalk. I imagine this won't go over well with either scooter operators or pedestrians. Also noteworthy: scooters would be required to have rear reflectors but, unlike bikes, not tail lights, even though the reflectors would be so low to the ground that I question their effectiveness (and the likelihood that they’d stay clean enough to be effective), and even though rental scooters have power supplies so they would only need to add relatively cheap LEDs to get active rear lighting.

I think not having lights is pretty consistent with not being allowed on the road–bikes & pedestrians don’t need reflectors or lights on sidewalks, either.

[Dewey]

ArlNow is reporting that Jump and Spin are looking to expand operations to Arlington County, Spin for scooters and Jump for scooters and dockless ebikeshare. The article mentions three companies Bird, Lime, and Lyft already operate scooters in Arlington. Source: https://www.arlnow.com/2019/02/06/two-more-companies-will-soon-offer-dockless-scooters-e-bikes-in-arlington/

[Dewey]

Consumer Reports publishes national crash data on scooter injuries for the period fall 2017-July 2018
https://www.consumerreports.org/product-safety/national-crash-data-from-e-scooter-ride-share-companies-revealed-for-first-time/

[Dewey]

WABA is inviting members to take a survey on e-scooters. This is what I typed in the comments section:

Please contact Jeff Marootian (DDOT), the Arlington County Board, and the National Park Service to get DC and neighboring jurisdictions to revise 18 DCMR §§ 1201.18, NPS trail rules in the Capital region, and Arlington County Code § 14.2-64.1 to permit Class 1 and 2 ebikes and electric scooters to legally use the Potomac bridge sidewalk paths. Please ask DC to revise the 2015 Motor Vehicle Collision Recovery Act to give riders of Class 1 and 2 ebikes and electric scooters the same protection from drivers that pedal cyclists and segway riders now have. It is inequitable I have to break a city regulation, NPS regs, and the Arlington County Code, just to safely cross the river to commute to work on a Class 1 or 2 ebike or electric scooter, and then be exposed to legal tort jeopardy riding the streets with cars.

With Maryland considering HB 939/SB 935 to legalize Class 1 and 2 ebikes on trails by October 2019, with Capital Bikeshare talking about expanding its ebike fleet to 600 bikes this year, and with NOVA Parks changing their regulation to permit ebikes on the W&OD trail, it is time the region coordinated efforts to legalize Class 1 and 2 ebikes and electric scooters on bike trails and multi use paths, particularly the river crossings and sections of paths on either side that connect to street bicycle infrastructure. The unintended consequences of failure to take action include continuing to expose ebike and scooter commuters to legal tort jeopardy in auto collisions, and invalidating riders liability insurance in collisions with pedestrians on paths. This is wrong, please use my WABA subscription fees to pursue equitable treatment for Class 1 and 2 ebike and electric scooter riders. Thank you.

[Judd]

Thanks for providing detailed comments Dewey with some specific legislation and how it impacts you. Also, thank you for being a WABA member.

The survey results will help inform the WABA board’s formulation of an official position on e-scooters (or the decision to continue to not have a position).

I’m curious what others think (be nice though).

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[buschwacker]

Here’s my comment:

Scooters are a fantastic addition to the transportation mix in our region. They also increase public support for transport infrastructure for vehicles other than cars, which has previously been dominated by the insular bike community. As the scooter-riding public realizes that non-car transport is viable and even desirable, and infrastructure is lacking for anything other than cars or pedestrians, then public support for “bike” lanes will increase. Therefore, scooters, apart from a great transit solution also represent a tide that will raise all ships.

[Dewey]

Thanks Judd, given NPS controls the Virginia MUP/trail approaches it will probably take Congressional action to effect change for Potomac river crossings. When Maryland (Virginia maybe next year) adopt the 3-Class model ebike legislation, that will legalize Class 1 and 2 ebikes riding on trails and MUP’s unless localities choose to prohibit them, it’s unclear if that will oblige local jurisdictions to review their reasoning and change the regulatory wording to explicitly call out Classes of ebikes and electric scooters to which a ban might continue to apply. I believe it’s worth making the regulatory changes to DCMR & Arlington County Code now to apply a consistent region wide legal framework for Class 1 and 2 ebikes and electric scooters enabling riders to commute safely and legally to and from the District then transition to on-street bicycle infrastructure when we reach the other side. As Buschwacker points out, encouraging more commuters to choose Capital Bikeshare Plus or dockless electric scooter should hopefully mean more people on bikes and scooters advocating for safer cycling infrastructure. It might also encourage more electric bike and scooter riders to consider taking out liability and/or personal injury insurance. There is no justification for denying legal protection from driver’s lawyers when we ride in the street.

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