Since the program began in 2018, when the city of Los Angeles legalized scooters and made a plan to distribute more, they have been a ubiquitous addition to the city streets. Touted as a boon to lower-income people who would have difficulty purchasing and maintaining cars, the scooters were a popular initiative. They were approved for use on shared roadways, with speeds up to 15 MPH. The city arranged to allow 10,500 scooters to be released by rival companies Bird and Lime. By 2019, there were 30,400 scooters on the road in Los Angeles, a representation of 8 brands now on the scene. So, it has obviously been a very popular offering, and a successful addition to the transportation scene, as far as public interest goes.
The question remains, though, how safe are the scooters? This needs to be asked, both for the scooter drivers themselves and for everyone else on the road. In the first year of operation, there were about 250 emergency room visits made by those who were operating scooters or those injured by them, this is from two UCLA hospitals in Los Angeles and Santa Monica.
These numbers raise two issues; the safety of the operators, and of those around them. For one thing, only about 4% of the scooter operators who ended up in the hospital were wearing helmets. For another thing, 8.4% of all the visitors were pedestrians who were either hit by a scooter or injured themselves tripping over or attempting to move a badly parked scooter.
The basic safety codes involve the 15 mph speed limit for the scooters, bans in certain neighborhoods (such as Beverly Hills for a limited time) and bans from certain roadways- namely those with a speed limit of over 25 mph. However, there are also more subtle laws, such as the fact that you can not leave the bike lane with your scooter, you must now wear a helmet at all times, you can’t have a friend, or anyone, hop on to ride with you and you can’t be found operating the scooter under the influence of drugs or alcohol. This is all regulated with tickets that can range from $150 up to $250.
It turned out, besides the operation, it was the parking that was the big issue for the shared roadways and pedestrian walkways. In fact, specific laws were created to address it. The city was tired of chasing after badly-parked scooters so they shifted the burden onto the companies themselves. Now, any scooter must be removed from an illegal parking space, by its operation company, within two hours during the time from 7am to 10pm.
Just remember, if a scooter locks erratic, give them plenty of room. In addition, you can report badly parked scooters to 311 in LA. But, if the worst happens, remember that it is to be treated the same as a car accident. Contact the authorities and a trusted attorney to make sure you protect yourself and your interests.
blogs
Looking Out for Motorcycles
In 2019, the number of deaths caused by motorcycles was found to be 29 times that of deaths caused by cars. Motorcycles can go very fast, they have no sides to protect the rider, they are more difficult to see on the road and they do not perform well in bad weather. While it is […]
Five Slip and Fall Facts
The more we have to go out into the world, the more dangers we’ll face. The key is not to be worried about it, but to be prepared and act safely. It also helps to know what to do and who to contact in the case of suffering a slip and fall injury yourself. Avoiding […]
Great Motorcycle Roads in Arizona
There’s no freer way to see the great state of Arizona than to travel it by motorcycle. Being one of the last gateways to the West Coast, our streets are manifold, so your options are virtually endless. Whether you’re touring to see the mountains, the wildlife, the succulents or other plants, or just visit towns […]
Tesla’s Brilliance in the Automobile Industry
Tesla Incorporation, founded by Elon Musk, is taking over the automobile industry with its emphasis on sustainable energy by manufacturing high-end electric vehicles. The company is known for its manufacture of high-end vehicles that are designed for speed and endurance. Below are a few ways Tesla and their brilliance with Elon Musk set the auto […]
The Most Common Types of Motorcycle Injury
The Most Common Types of Motorcycle Crashes According to the National Institute of Health, there are four main types of motorcycle crashes. Distinguishing these by category helps determine patterns that can later be used to help treat such accidents. The four main types are: The Most Common Injuries on a Motorcycle In the same study, […]
Top 4 Personal Injury Myths
Personal injury cases are more rampant than you can ever imagine. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, about 31 million of the injuries that occur every year often call for medical care. Considering their prevalence, it comes as no surprise that there are so many myths and misconceptions surrounding personal injury. Think you got […]
Top 5 Reasons Why You Need a Personal Injury Lawyer
Accidents happen almost every time and sometimes so fast that you don’t have time to figure out the way forward. True, you might end up feeling stressed up because of the piling medical bills. The pilling finances might drain you, thus rendering you unable to work. Statistics reveal that more than 31 million people are […]
Facts About Workers Compensation Claims
Getting injured on the job happens quite frequently, which is why many employers keep an eye out for workplace injuries and often do not take them seriously. It is important that you take your own workplace injury seriously, meaning to seek medical treatment right away and to know your options for workplace injury compensation. Your […]
Introducing MADD
As it says on their website, “the mission of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is to end drunk driving, help fight drugged driving, support the victims of these violent crimes, and prevent underage drinking.” And these mothers and their supporters work tirelessly to improve policy and law-making, and they are a force to be reckoned […]
Motorcycle Safety Tips
Riding a motorcycle is exhilarating and freeing. It also can be quite dangerous. Equip yourself with preparedness to ensure every trip you take ends only with a smile and a safe arrival. As always, if the unfortunate does happen, navigating the aftermath of a motorcycle accident is a large undertaking. We are here to help […]
contact form
