Are Scooters in San Diego Causing Problems?

Scooters have been showing up in great numbers in cities throughout America, including San Diego. However, the major scooter companies are beginning to face some legal pushback. A federal lawsuit has been filed against companies such as Lime, Bird and Razor—some of the most popular scooter companies out there—claiming discrimination against people with disabilities.

What’s Happening with the Federal Scooter Lawsuit?

The problem is these scooters tend to block people with disabilities from accessing the public right-of-way on sidewalks. In essence, the sidewalk is now considered an actual part of the highway since many residents ride these scooters as they would bikes on a regular basis, posing perhaps a safety threat. What the lawsuit poses is a court order keeping scooters off sidewalks, either parked or operating. This also includes crosswalks, curb ramps and other such walkways typically designated for pedestrians. Of course, why people don’t seem to think that it’s possible to drive these scooters on bike lanes is a mystery, except for the fact that it may congest that lane with all other bikers as well. The point of the scooter is convenience and ease of use typically associated with sidewalks. The fact is any motorized scooter on a sidewalk is illegal under California law—so is parking them anywhere on the sidewalk. The problem is the law isn’t being enforced much at all for a lot of reasons: other issues take precedence. However, that may no longer be the case with this lawsuit waiting in the weeds to see the light of day.

By The Numbers: Scooters in San Diego

According to the San Diego Police Department, 551 scooter citations were issued in 2018. Multiply that by four, and that’s the minimum number of citations issued to those not even wearing a helmet. This is a safety issue that affects everyone, not just those with disabilities. Still when the city hasn’t taken any steps to accommodate the beneficial use of scooters—such as appropriate lanes for them—it becomes more of a problem that most likely can’t be solved by too much regulation. This criticism applies to just about anything—such as cars, of course. Car accidents kill approximately 100 people every day, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and the argument here is that a scooter generally is like a car. You obey the exact same rules of the road, you’re using it as transportation, it serves a purpose for workers in the city. Regulating scooters may solve one issue—the safety of the disabled—but it could then create others.

Promoting Safety Is Key—for Everyone

It’s crucial to perhaps invest in a safety education campaign, promoting everything from free helmets to moving illegally parked scooters as a way to remedy an issue. Micromobility isn’t bad—just not beneficial for everyone. But there are ways to improve the situation. Written on behalf of Fred Dudek by AskTheLawyers.com™