Riders are supposed to ride scooters on the sidewalk if the street speed limit is 30 mph or more. Pedestrians, cyclists or scooter riders who are involved in an accident with a car doing 30 mph or more have a much higher risk of death or debilitating injuries. For twenty years as a physical therapist pedestrian and cyclist injury victims were my bread and butter, that’s transitioned to shooting and assault victims because of the rising violent crime, not because the streets are safer.

The scooter companies have the rules in the app and on their website. Maybe riders read the rules and follow them, probably that is too much wishful thinking.

I used to ride scooters with my grandchildren to get ice cream from the Baskin Robbins, years ago we rode on the sidewalk when going onto Wilkens Avenue because of the speed of the cars. My grandchildren were courteous to walkers and runners, stepped off the scooters when the sidewalk narrowed or someone was passing by. Now the sidewalk is so overgrown with weeds, buckled and broken that the sidewalk is as dangerous as the streets. I believe many scooter riders today pick the safest place to ride, either street with speeding cars and potholes, or sidewalk with litter and weeds. I’m happy people still use the scooters. It’s great for your mental and physical health to be outside and get some exercise.