The carnage of scooters in American cities – Axios



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Scooters are increasingly used in American cities. Many cyclists find out to their costs that it's hard to share the road with a car.

Why it's important: "[A] approximate count by [AP] Since the beginning of the year 201, at least eleven deaths of electric scooter riders have been reported in the United States. Nine were on rented scooters and two on those whose victims were owners, "according to the AP.

Between the lines: Rented scooters do not wear a helmet and head injuries accumulate.

  • "Cyclists do not want to be exposed to lice or germs that could be found in shared helmets, and many make the spontaneous decision to scoot when they are already outside."
  • "In Austin, Texas, public health officials (…) accounted for 192 scooter-related injuries in three months in 2018. Nearly half were head injuries."
  • In Los Angeles, emergency doctors "counted 249 scooter injuries [in 2018]and more than 40% were head injuries. "

And after: Scooter companies take steps to reduce risk.

  • Bird ceased operations after midnight, and lime stops renting at night in some markets, but in most cases its scooters are available all night long. "
  • "Lime has also updated the design of its scooters, with a wider wheelbase, better suspension and better braking, Bird incorporates more durable brakes and reinforced hardware to prevent breakdowns."

The bottom line: The streets of the United States remain particularly dangerous for people who are not in a vehicle, and this is usually because of the vehicles.

Go further: The meteoric rise of scooter companies in a graph

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