To-performing electric scooters are touted as being the new champions of eco-friendly personal travel. Despite this lofty claim, many consumers out there have begun to dislike e-scooters, claiming that they are bad.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Electric scooters are a great eco-friendly alternative to cars, but not when compared to walking or cycling.
- Some people dislike e-scooters because of perceived safety risks, despite most injuries being due to a lack of safety gear.
- Local residents tend to dislike electric scooter ride-sharing apps, such as Bird and Lime, as users of said apps leave scooters all over the place.
Are Scooters Having an Environmental Impact?
These detractors note that e-scooters are not having much of an environmental impact. This is up for debate, but it is worth noting that there are some serious environmental costs when it comes to manufacturing electric scooters. Additionally, these e-scooters tend to primarily replace bicycling and walking, two modes of personal transportation that are greener than riding a scooter.
Insider Tip
Though popular as a hobby, it will take mass adoption of electric scooters to make a serious environmental impact.
The environmental impact has also been minimized by the relatively low adoption rate. Though popular as a hobby, it will take mass adoption of electric scooters to make a serious environmental impact. Also, many of these scooters will have to be used instead of a car. The beauty of these vehicles is their ease of fixing, like the DIY troubleshooting guide for when your e-scooter wont move.
Why People Think Electric Scooters are Bad
Besides the relatively minimal impact on the environment, there are many other reasons why some would-be consumers think electric scooters are bad.
Safety Concerns
Many people who dislike electric scooters are simply concerned about potential safety risks. E-scooters have received a deluge of negative press when it comes to their overall safety, though much of this has been unwarranted. For example, the average weight of e-scooters is what makes them stable and easy to maneuver and handle. Generally speaking, electric scooters are about as safe as bicycles, electric bikes, hoverboards, and other modes of personal transportation. Accidents and injuries do happen, but in most cases, the injury is caused by a rider not wearing the appropriate safety gear. As a matter of fact, over 95 percent of scooter-related head injuries were reported by riders without helmets.
Insider Tip
Over 95 percent of scooter-related head injuries were reported by riders without helmets.
Ride-Sharing Apps
Cities have become overrun with electric scooter ride-sharing apps, such as Lime and Bird. These apps are great for tourists but have not proven to be popular with local residents. Many of these ride-sharing companies take advantage of free public space in order to hawk their wares and users of these apps tend to leave unattended scooters all over the place. This has led to growing concern from local populations.
Discourteous Riders
Another reason folks dislike electric scooters is that some riders are discourteous. These riders often use sidewalks and get in the way of pedestrians. Additionally, they can ride much faster than walkers and can bump into people as they ride.
Warning
Accidents and injuries do happen, but in most cases, the injury is caused by a rider not wearing the appropriate safety gear.
F.A.Q.
Are electric scooters eco-friendly?
Yes, though perhaps not quite as eco-friendly as marketing may lead you to believe. There are numerous factors that go into gauging a device’s green footprint.
We love electric scooters but is the Bird trend actually bad for the environment?
We wouldn’t go that far. Electric scooters are a great eco-friendly alternative to using a car, but not a great alternative to riding a bike or simply walking. The more people that replace their car with a scooter, the more eco-friendly;y the industry will become.
Are electric scooters awesome or terrible?
This depends on who you ask. We tend to think e-scooters are great for recreational activities and good for running errands and for daily commutes.
STAT: According to a new study made about micro-mobility services, including e-scooters, a majority (70 percent) of people across the U.S. view electric scooters positively. (source)
