A Cheat Sheet to the “Chicago Tonight” Dockless Electric Scooter Safety Discussion
Riding a scooter in the WTTW parking lot. Image: Chicago Tonight
I had a good time discussing dockless electric scooter safety issues in advance of Chicago's June 15 pilot launch on WTTW’s current affairs show “Chicago Tonight” with host Phil Ponce for a segment that aired last night. In case you’re short on time, here’s a list of the topics we covered.
00:00: Where the pilot will take place
00:35: What is a dockless electric scooter
01:35: What's it like riding a dockless scooter, and why does it appeal to some people?
02:15: One-third of all injuries to scooter users take place during first rides on a scooter
02:30: Do I feel safe riding an e-scooter?
02:50: How do they handle potholes?
03:05: Recent safety study done in Austin, Texas
03:35: Comparing recent scooter fatalities to bike-share deaths
04:00: Why is bike-share so much safer than scooters?
04:35: Will Chicago have a helmet requirement for scooters?
05:25: How do you park dockless scooters?
05:55: The scooter vandalism issue
06:25: Scooters can replace car trips and serve as a link to transit
07:00: Scooters can help raise political support for more protected car-free lanes
Stay in touch
Sign up for our free newsletter
More from Streetsblog Chicago
Protected bike lanes are coming to Dearborn, Clark, and – maybe someday – Wells on Near North Side
Dearborn is getting northbound PBLs north of Kinzie, and Clark is getting southbound ones, but Wells Street will have to wait.
Taste of 79th Community Walk uses a stroll with a New Orleans-style brass band to highlight the corridor
Saturday's event was a reminder that there's no better way to get to know a neighborhood than taking a walk with others, enjoying live music, and supporting local businesses.
Today’s Headlines for Wednesday, September 20
Check it out: Now it’s safer to get on and off the 312 RiverRun from Belmont Avenue
One of the coolest new things on the on-street route is the treatment of Belmont near and over the Chicago River, by the southern trailhead of the north-south path.
