I honestly wouldn't feel safe on an electric scooter, especially as scooter traffic increases. Likewise, there's a stat/research that was recently shared in another thread on HN referencing increase in accidents/collisions relating to a decrease in gas costs, meaning poorer people - who drive less and other factors would impact them too - get onto the road again, and this same demographic who can't normally afford to drive would then be able to afford scooters. Yes, this is good for accessibility - assuming they are fit to drive or "scoot."
As a pedestrian or as a driver of a vehicle? And if a pedestrian, it's clear people are complaining that there are people are riding on sidewalks - when perhaps they shouldn't - so that seems less safe.
And that's a pretty general statement. Could you explain why you feel safe unsafe with cars around you?
> Could you explain why you feel safe unsafe with cars around you?
A 150lb person on a scooter or bike runs into somebody at 15mph; the most likely outcome is everybody walks away, with small chances of death, and mediocre chances of broken bones.
A 3500lb car doesn't see a scooter, bicyclist, pedestrian and turns into them; and your best outcome approaches serious injury and your expected outcome becomes death.
woefully overinvested streets and underinvested sidewalks; And woefully under trained drivers.
As possible counters: vehicles are larger, and pedestrians are more likely to see and/or hear them; this changes with electric vehicles becoming more silent, however should be counter-balanced and improved with AI and autonomous driving protecting pedestrians.
I'm quite certain scooters go faster than 15mph as well? I could be wrong though. You also don't expect vehicles to drive on the sidewalk, however as I said, scooters on the sidewalk seems to be a problem; equally what can be dangerous are motorized wheelchairs who I've experienced a few times going full speed, driving recklessly.
Most of the electric scooters (Lime/Bird) will only accelerate to 15 w/ the motor (a hill or serious kicking can potentially make it go faster to the rolling speed limitation)
A quick google tells me that motorized wheelchairs are speed limited to 6-8mph.
Your comment that pedestrians see/hear cars is concerning, as if you've never walked a street before;
A) the increased speed, makes both of these more unknown
B) road noise from other traffic
c) intersections mean that even with seeing, hearing, a car can still run straight into a pedestrian in a crosswalk with a last minute turn.
"Your comment that pedestrians see/hear cars is concerning, as if you've never walked a street before;"
... both parties need to be paying attention, especially when crossing streets - that's what accountability is; I can't stop laughing at your "concern" like I've never walked on a sidewalk before. :)
8pm is roughly ~13 kmph, walking speed is 5-6 kmph - I've definitely seen, at least here in Canada, motorized wheelchairs going 3x+ faster than walking; maybe they weren't legal.
The rest of what you said is of course true, I was comparing the physical size of a scooter vs. a vehicle though. Riding a bicycle has its dangers too, though more equally for a pedestrian and rider, than if a pedestrian is hit by a scooter.
