Electric scooters have popped up everywhere. You locate them through an app on your phone and rent them directly through the app. They're designed to provide a clean and convenient mode of transportation for people in urban areas and help reduce motor traffic.
These scooters are a helpful and affordable way to get around the city, however, they have already posed some safety concerns. Not long after they were introduced in Nashville, two women were hit by a car while riding the scooters through a crosswalk. If you are planning on zipping around the city on one of these scooters, here are some tips on doing it safely and responsibly.
Following traffic laws helps keep you and pedestrians safe when riding these scooters. Whenever there is a designated bike lane available, electric scooter riders must use it and they must ride in a single file line.
As with bicycles, you need to obey all traffic signs and signals. This means stopping at stop signs and red lights and yielding to pedestrians, it is also recommended to verbally warn pedestrians when you are passing.
Other motorists can't predict your actions, so following traffic laws will help keep you safe and prevent you from accidentally riding out in front of a vehicle or hitting a pedestrian.
It may be tempting to zoom in and out of traffic on one of these scooters, but this is extremely dangerous. With electric scooters being a fairly recent form of transportation, most drivers are not used to watching for them, especially when they're already keeping an eye out for golf carts, party buses, and hay rides.
During high traffic times, try to avoid busy areas or use a street with a designated bike lane. Always be mindful of motorists and be cautious. It's always safer to assume drivers can't see you or don't expect you. Just because you're paying attention doesn't mean they are.
Currently, Nashville encourages all riders to wear a helmet, wrist guards, elbow pads, and knee pads. Electric scooters can travel up to 15 miles per hour, which is the same speed as an average bicyclist.
In a 2015 study, helmets.org reported that 97% of bicycle fatalities involved a rider that was not wearing a helmet. Protecting your head when traveling at this speed is very important, especially when there is a possibility of colliding with a motorist traveling at much higher speeds.
In an effort to make their scooters safer, some companies will even supply you with a free helmet. You can make a request for a helmet on their app and it will be delivered to you. It's always better to be safe than sorry and with a free helmet, there is no excuse not to wear one.
When you're done with your ride, you can park the scooter in the designated areas. Some people have abused this by parking the scooters irresponsibly. Do not leave your scooter in the middle of a walkway, storefront, or in front of handicap ramps or accessible entrances. Park them out of the way of pedestrians and use the scooter's kick stand instead of laying them on the ground.
These scooters have the potential to be a fun and helpful way to get around the city but it's important to be careful and responsible when operating them so that everyone stays safe.