You’ve undoubtedly observed an electric scooter whizzing by you on the road, in a bike lane, or on the pavement. And whether you believe electric scooters are a fad or the future, they are here to stay. Are electric scooters allowed to ride shoulder-to-shoulder with pedestrians, bicycles, or road vehicles?
Are they safe enough to ride on city streets? These are some of the questions that more people are asking today. As a new kind of technology, it’s understandable that people are confused about where electric scooters should be allowed on the road. But just because they’re new, shouldn’t we immediately resist and brand these vehicles as unfit for the road?
But yes, mobility scooters can now roam in the bicycle lane, at least in various parts of the United States, but the number of adopters is increasing. The progress is likely to continue because more and more people are now using mobility scooters for their daily errands.
That’s why it is better (and more helpful) to determine whether our streets are now fit and safe enough? Fewer accidents occur when drivers are more conscious of their surroundings. Technological breakthroughs might appear frightening for individuals who aren’t early adopters.
Electric Scooters are Still New
How can you be sure it’s not harmful or helpful when technology is new? How do you incorporate cutting-edge technology in a way that benefits everyone? Awareness does not simply result in acceptance — it may also help reduce accident rates. Road designs haven’t always considered cyclists, and neither have other road users, making it difficult for them to react safely and appropriately.
Studies show that bike accidents are lower due to drivers’ increased attention to cyclists and newly acquired driving habits. Electric scooters are still so new that authorities cannot accurately measure their safety. Some people think that electric scooters are too dangerous and must be away from public streets.
Cyclists often get into accidents, but the public does not call for a ban on bicycles. Instead, people work to ensure that the infrastructure is in place to keep cyclists safe when accidents happen.
When a city builds new infrastructure, it encourages people to use it.
If we are more aware of potential dangers, we can avoid the hazards on the street. However, it is much more effective also to have dedicated and protected infrastructure in place. Most cities have a car-centric infrastructure to adapt to the increasing need for this type of project.
But the downside is that when cars hit people on mobility scooters, it will be more dangerous. A study shows that 90% of mobility scooters users feel safer in protected bike lanes.
Fatalities have also caused car drivers to slow down and be more aware of their surroundings.
This response is positive progress in reducing the chance of fatalities and serious injuries. This results in the study found that focusing on safer shared road usage can save lives. But it’s sad to think that it will take real casualties before drivers can be more aware of their surroundings.
Giving More Space for Mobility Scooters
Designing cities for people instead of cars can significantly impact the safety of everyone who uses the road. But has this been effective in real life? Oslo is an excellent example of how cities can redesign streets to make them safer for mobility scooter users, bikers, and pedestrians.
In 2019, the city saw no fatalities from cyclists or pedestrians due to car-reducing initiatives in the city center.
Building more bike lanes is an excellent solution to make cities safer and more beneficial for mobility scooter users. It reduces the speed limit and means more places for bikes and scooters to go. Other cities have shown that this is an effective way to make things safer. Many cities have found that the same approach for electric scooter riders also works for people who ride e-scooters.
In Portland, Oregon, they studied the 2018 electric scooter trial and found that 83% of the injuries related to e-scooters were minor. But 13% of these were from people streets with bike lanes had more people using scooters. People rode on the pavement less when the roads had protected bike lanes. It shows the importance of building infrastructure to keep riders separate from pedestrians and mobility scooter riders.
Recommended Mobility Scooters to Keep You Safe
| Mobility Scooter | Price | |
| Companion Mobility Scooter 4-Wheel (GC440) | $2,494 | Buy in Amazon |
| Pride Revo 2.0 Mobility Scooter 4-Wheel | $1,839 | Buy in Amazon |
Conclusion
One of the most significant barriers to safety for all road users is that many cities are centric.
This makes it difficult for cyclists, scooters, and mobility scooters to use the road. That’s why local authorities need to pass laws that allow for shared lanes, and city planners need to create safer infrastructure.
Citations
Why Riding Electric Scooters in Bike Lanes Makes Us All Safer | by TAUR | Lotus Fruit | Medium
Are mobility scooters allowed on roads and bike lanes? – The Globe and Mail
What are the Rules for Mobility Scooters? Bike Lane, Parking, Speed?
