Disclosure: Some of the information in this article was AI generated and marked with * where this is the case.
Ggrrr… Looks Familiar?
You’ve all seen them… or maybe tripped on one of them if you can’t see! They have become very popular. Although user-owned eScooters may not be as problematic, it would appear that the “rentals” are starting to become a problem. And New Brunswick’s larger cities are not the first to be faced with this new traveling obstacle. Halifax was originally the home to one such eScooter rental company. But they are now calling Moncton their home. The first thing you see on their website is a bright yellow banner advising would-be customers or interested parties that “Due to Government Regulation, we’re no longer in Halifax. We’ve Relocated to Moncton”. So Why? (keep reading below screenshot)
*Based on information recovered from AI via Google, accessibility is definitely one of the reasons. See for yourself in this second screenshot below. Please note that information retrieved with AI include a collection of information available on the internet and can also include falsities.
We are opening comments on this article as we want to hear from you. We are asking:
1- Have these rented scooters caused you any accessibility problems?
2- Would you like NBCPD to approach the rental companies in order to address your concerns?
8 Responses
I believe that these scooters are hazardous to people with disabilities because they are unregulated, most drive on the sidewalk and they are left or abandoned in key areas that the disabled use.
Thank you for your response!
For myself it’s the driving and leaving them in walkways, able to walk but difficult to navigate obstacles and quick moving bikes whether bikes or not.
In my opinion, the scooters have just added to an existing problem of sidewalk debris/barrier issues. That these scooters are just popular as in the latest trendy gadgets, thus we are seeing lots of them in inner city areas. Laws on them and many other barrier situations need to be under enforceable law. Public campaigns needs to be constant and consistent, not done for a few months here and there, but all year with same message, “keep sidewalks clear for all”. Years ago, parents would teach their kids etiquette and basic social interaction guidelines, respect for others and their own property. That has not been taught since the mid 80’s to the general population it seems from the behavior we see in society today. But all items on sidewalks from garbage day, recycle bins, compost bins, sandwich boards, city construction temporary signs on 4-legged easels, etc… are all barriers to those with vison and mobility challenges.
Such excellent points Karen! I agree. Every time I come across one, I think “excellent, the traveling barrier”. Here we are fighting to get ramps and access and then, a company finally complies just to be blocked by the two-wheel menace. lol. We have to keep a close eye on this situation, before it gets out of hand. In Halifax, they stopped the rentals and they indicate barriers to accessibility as one of the reasons, however they started their own. And from what I have seen while searching this subject, some of those are blocking access as well. Does it really matter who is renting them? The end problem will be the same, since the problem lies in the user and not in the actual device. As usual. Personally, I feel Halifax might have been more interesting in grabbing that revenue as their own rather than trying to solve an accessibility problem. Maybe I’m being a bit cynical?
I think the way people are parking them mostly on half of the sidewalk is a tripping hazard forcing some people with a disability to either walk on the side of the road or take their chances walking on uneven ground which is a fall waiting to happen. It also would make it dangerous for families who either use strollers or wagons to bring young children point to point.
So far, so good here. I’ve seen a few around the north end of Moncton. It would be nice if they put some sort of awareness stickers on em.
Sometimes that’s all it takes 🙂
I personally have not seen anyone in Saint John affected my scooters or e-bikes. There has been a few times on the red path where some teens or young adults were going pretty fast while zooming around others walking this isn’t all the time and in a city like Saint john being built where most people are walking up hill, both ways. I feel scooters and e-bikes really do help alot of people who wish not to lug items so far up our never ending steap hills. I think some regulatory measurements to insure proper parking of the devices, getting fined if they disregard the safety measures in place. I do feel that they are a benefit to the public use and that it can sometimes be the difference between “the laundry bag is way too heavy, i also feel that the province can’t just have scooters all willy nillly flying by or being in the ways of other people getting some place or blocking entrances and exits (its also unsafe if it inhibits possible Emergency services difficult get to people if and when needed.) There need to be some work and rules in place by each city outlining clear dos and don’ts with such vehicles. There is always one in a bunch who will try and push rules or feels such dont apply to them, but im sure council pull something together that will work for everyone.