The problem you’re describing sounds more like an issue with space allocation. You mention that motorists are only an issue when you cross the street. Have you ever thought about the ratio of the space allocated to lanes for cars versus the space allocated to everyone else? It sounds like city planners over the years have allocated a far too large a portion of public space to cars, forcing pedestrians and scooters, among others, to compete over what’s left.
I work as a city planner, and experience this constantly. The space allocated to cars makes everyone else fight and compete over the small share that’s left, and none asks why we aren’t all demanding that space be reallocated from cars to other modes of transport instead of cramming everybody in the pedestrian pathways.
If there was space available in a separated bike lane, most scooters would likely prefer riding there instead of on the pavement. But if they have to share the space with 2 ton steel projectiles, then most take their chances with the pedestrians. It’s all a question of what a municipality chooses to prioritize when it comes to allocating public space.
Don’t get me wrong, I am all for low traffic cities.
I think it is rather other than space allocation, though. (Broad) cycling lanes are rapidly increasing, and pavements are generally broad (like roads). Space allocation could be improved upon, but I believe it far from the main cause.
Specifically for scooters, it is part behaviour and part consequence of easy access to heavy scooters. I don’t think scooters are in-and-of-themselves a problematic transport method, I think rental scooters are.
At the same time it is worth to consider the downsides of certain modes of transportation, instead of only comparing them to cars and their infrastructure. I just don’t think the discussion needs to be a what-aboutism. Especially considering the lack for some formal training, making many of the users of scooters a hazard for others and themselves.
The problem you’re describing sounds more like an issue with space allocation. You mention that motorists are only an issue when you cross the street. Have you ever thought about the ratio of the space allocated to lanes for cars versus the space allocated to everyone else? It sounds like city planners over the years have allocated a far too large a portion of public space to cars, forcing pedestrians and scooters, among others, to compete over what’s left.
I work as a city planner, and experience this constantly. The space allocated to cars makes everyone else fight and compete over the small share that’s left, and none asks why we aren’t all demanding that space be reallocated from cars to other modes of transport instead of cramming everybody in the pedestrian pathways.
If there was space available in a separated bike lane, most scooters would likely prefer riding there instead of on the pavement. But if they have to share the space with 2 ton steel projectiles, then most take their chances with the pedestrians. It’s all a question of what a municipality chooses to prioritize when it comes to allocating public space.
Don’t get me wrong, I am all for low traffic cities.
I think it is rather other than space allocation, though. (Broad) cycling lanes are rapidly increasing, and pavements are generally broad (like roads). Space allocation could be improved upon, but I believe it far from the main cause.
Specifically for scooters, it is part behaviour and part consequence of easy access to heavy scooters. I don’t think scooters are in-and-of-themselves a problematic transport method, I think rental scooters are.
At the same time it is worth to consider the downsides of certain modes of transportation, instead of only comparing them to cars and their infrastructure. I just don’t think the discussion needs to be a what-aboutism. Especially considering the lack for some formal training, making many of the users of scooters a hazard for others and themselves.