AustinBike Posted November 26, 2018 Share Posted November 26, 2018 This is my daily workout, down around the lake and back, about 18 miles round trip, always been a great way to kill some time and keep in shape. Earlier this year they put up the "no motorized vehicles" sign to keep the scooters off the trail. This afternoon I saw 2 guys from park police and asked them when are they going to start enforcing that because the scooter situation is getting out of control. They aren't. And it gets worse. Starting on 12/1 they are going into a 1 year "pilot program" of allowing scooters on town lake trails. Fuuuuuuuu.......dge. Get ready to start dodging frat bros and douchebags on scooters racing through the trail. They did impress upon me the need to call 311 any time we see idiots going too far (i.e. racing, weaving in and out of people, knocking into people, being general idiots, etc.) Those complaints will get registered, it's our only way to show the impact. Brace yourselves, scooters are coming. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
June Bug Posted November 26, 2018 Share Posted November 26, 2018 It was a stupid idea to ever allow unleashed dogs on the trails at Walnut Creek and City of Austin knew that this was a bad idea from Day 1. Scooters on the trail around Lady Bird Lake is a bad idea, and it won't get better. There will be collisions, because on certain days, the trail is packed with walkers, runners, dog walkers and bike riders. The tiny wheels on the scooters will also get bogged down and the scooters won't be very stable in some places where the trail is unpaved and they can go way too fast on areas of the trail that are paved. Oh well. I was at a Bike Texas meeting a few weeks ago and Robin Stallings was falling all over himself about how wonderful e bikes are because he owns one and uses it to commute, so Bike Texas (essentially a lobbying organization with Robin as the lobbyist) will be pushing hard for access for e bikes on paths. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anita Handle Posted November 26, 2018 Share Posted November 26, 2018 IMO, if traffic on the trail is low enough for bikes, it is fine for scooters as well. That trail pinches down pretty narrow in quite a few spots, to the point where, on a busy day, it isn't worth my time to try to ride a bike through it. Ringing a bell through a thick wad of runners, walkers and baby stroller pushers is a recipe for douchedom. I've seen bikers blasting through there, endangering foot traffic. So, yes, I expect scooter riders to also include a few dumbasses. I know people hate the scooters and rental bikes but I think they'll eventually be another mode of transport to get people out of cars. In Texas during the summer, I can either take a car or sweat my ass off pedaling a bike or walking somewhere. A small electric vehicle brings another option. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheX Posted November 26, 2018 Share Posted November 26, 2018 I don't have a problem with off-leash dogs at WC. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mack_turtle Posted November 27, 2018 Share Posted November 27, 2018 coming soon: assholes skidding corners all over Walnut: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATXZJ Posted November 27, 2018 Share Posted November 27, 2018 (edited) People should be publicly mocked and ridiculed for riding those things. The 21st century equivalent to the rollerblade Edited November 27, 2018 by ATXZJ 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taco_junkie Posted November 27, 2018 Share Posted November 27, 2018 1 hour ago, mack_turtle said: coming soon: assholes skidding corners all over Walnut: You're not wrong. I saw one of those scooters and a motorized skateboard thing out on the veloway last week. Nowhere is safe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntonioGG Posted November 27, 2018 Share Posted November 27, 2018 Heard it on the radio that this is going to be at all Austin City Parks. E-bikes and scooters on the trails. They mentioned north and south walnut creek trails but it wasn't clear if this includes off-road trails or just groomed trails. I can't find any info on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AustinBike Posted November 27, 2018 Author Share Posted November 27, 2018 11 hours ago, AntonioGG said: Heard it on the radio that this is going to be at all Austin City Parks. E-bikes and scooters on the trails. They mentioned north and south walnut creek trails but it wasn't clear if this includes off-road trails or just groomed trails. I can't find any info on it. All we can hope is that the scooter companies all go belly up. Once they run out of their VC cushion they'll come up with the unfortunate truth that their business models are unsustainable. Literally. They need to be rounded up each night, charged, and then redeployed every morning. There is no way this is viable when you consider the high capital cost of entry and the high operational costs. Hopefully the demise will happen quickly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teamsloan Posted November 27, 2018 Share Posted November 27, 2018 What if all the scooters mysteriously were found relocated underneath the pedestrian bridge? I'll be happy to call 311 every time I have an encounter with these things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazyt Posted November 27, 2018 Share Posted November 27, 2018 All we can hope is that the scooter companies all go belly up. Once they run out of their VC cushion they'll come up with the unfortunate truth that their business models are unsustainable. Literally. They need to be rounded up each night, charged, and then redeployed every morning. There is no way this is viable when you consider the high capital cost of entry and the high operational costs. Hopefully the demise will happen quickly.I saw a financial model and they are very viableSent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AustinBike Posted November 27, 2018 Author Share Posted November 27, 2018 I'd be interested in seeing this, exclusive of any VC/angel funding. Right now the models seem primed for implosion. The charging piece is especially troubling: https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2018/05/charging-electric-scooters-is-a-cutthroat-business/560747/ Just wait until people start doing the math on this. It is similar to being an Uber driver. In the early days people were very hung ho, great way to make money. Then they started cracking down on the drivers, it was harder to make money. Then the real costs started to show through in wear and tear on cars, insurance riders, etc. Eventually people started to realize that the primo side hustle was closer to minimum wage than they had imagined. Give it time on the "wranglers". It is coming. As the economics tighten on the companies, the rewards will start to fall off. And that is when things turn inwards. There is room for one scooter company, maybe 2 (more like 1.5). Definitely not 3. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATXZJ Posted November 27, 2018 Share Posted November 27, 2018 8 minutes ago, AustinBike said: Right now the models seem primed for implosion. The charging piece is especially troubling: https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2018/05/charging-electric-scooters-is-a-cutthroat-business/560747/ Just wait until people start doing the math on this. It is similar to being an Uber driver. In the early days people were very hung ho, great way to make money. Then they started cracking down on the drivers, it was harder to make money. Then the real costs started to show through in wear and tear on cars, insurance riders, etc. Eventually people started to realize that the primo side hustle was closer to minimum wage than they had imagined. This^ It just seems a bit chaotic and difficult to have a line of sight on your product. But hey, who doesn't love stepping over this??????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidingAgain Posted November 27, 2018 Share Posted November 27, 2018 (edited) The first time I went to Negril (west end of Jamaica) was in 1972. There were pretty much only small motel-like places to stay... And just a couple of them. The only foreigners you'd fine were some hardcore American hippies and a few Europeans. Oh yes... And a few people on the run from the law. Seven miles of beautiful white sand beach and the clearest light blue water found anywhere in the world, way out in the middle of nowhere. Paradise. But as the Eagles said... Call somewhere paradise, you can kiss it goodbye. The last thirty years of vacation resort development in Negril has overwhelmed the infrastructure and local society. Sure... People make money... Lots and lots of money. Which then brings in more and more people trying to make some of that lots and lots of money. Which then caused those who were already established in Negril to become offended by those just coming in. And around and around it goes... Where it will end... No one really knows. The old days... Then came the new days... Edited November 27, 2018 by RidingAgain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anita Handle Posted November 27, 2018 Share Posted November 27, 2018 46 minutes ago, ATXZJ said: This^ It just seems a bit chaotic and difficult to have a line of sight on your product. But hey, who doesn't love stepping over this??????? I think they'll start doing a better job of educating their users on etiquette, traffic safety, traffic laws, etc. Either that or they'll end up with a pile of city ordinances in a thousand different places. I was a Pinthouse on Saturday and people had filled up the front patio, cruiser bikes were all over the placed, tucked into the tables, on the sidewalk. Again, it's not the scooters, it's the humans and humans can and do screw up this sort of thing all the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntonioGG Posted November 27, 2018 Share Posted November 27, 2018 I'd be all for scooters if I thought they are replacing a car trip...but I think like ride "share" they are not replacing car-trips. I think scooters are replacing walking, maybe cycling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FJsnoozer Posted November 27, 2018 Share Posted November 27, 2018 Scooters don’t bother me; I find them entertaining to watch. Dogs at walnut don’t bother me unless they are fighting in the creek and owners won’t or can’t break them up, therefore your dog doesn’t belong in the park. I will and do break them up. I have enough pride in my neighborhood, and respect for handicap that I will line the scooters up or move them out of the way. I take more issue with the bikes. They are an eyesore and just thrown everywhere with no one that moves them. There was one in the bushes in town lake for three weeks. I never go around to moving it... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperSlow Posted November 27, 2018 Share Posted November 27, 2018 2 hours ago, AntonioGG said: I'd be all for scooters if I thought they are replacing a car trip...but I think like ride "share" they are not replacing car-trips. I think scooters are replacing walking, maybe cycling. The Bike Share companies are taking losses, likely because of the scooters. Was in The Statesman today or yesterday. It's absolutely replacing walking and cycling. Some kid was moving them enough to set off the alarm and then moving on to the next one on Saturday, it was pretty entertaining to watch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRider3141 Posted November 27, 2018 Share Posted November 27, 2018 I'm torn on the scooters. In general the people riding them have no clue and just asking for a minor to major injury. The scooters when not in use are at best clutter and are even expanding into North Austin and I even saw some within 1/2 mile of Brushy Creek in my neighborhood! Where are they going on them??!?! Downtown Round Rock?! On the other hand, my wife and I rode them a bit around San Antonio and they were very handy for minimal cost. As a tourist they were mildly useful and fun. If I lived/ worked in the city I'd defiantly consider them for daily commute. They are banned on the San Antonio River Walk, which I 100% agree with. After walking Town Lake with strollers and elderly family members I have no problem with the overconfident but competent commuter/roadie but they unwashed masses on tiny-wheeled scooters is just asking for trouble. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhoAmI Posted November 27, 2018 Share Posted November 27, 2018 18 hours ago, mack_turtle said: coming soon: assholes skidding corners all over Walnut: Like yesterday...more or less? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidingAgain Posted November 27, 2018 Share Posted November 27, 2018 And the contention begins... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntonioGG Posted November 27, 2018 Share Posted November 27, 2018 (edited) I looked up Subchapter C of the Texas Transportation Code. What am I missing? What applies is Austin codes anyway. To be honest, those things look like fun and they seem to have little impact on the trail. They are not high torque by nature of the fact that it has a single wheel, so they cannot apply high torque. The guys look like they're working hard balancing. It looks like surfing on land. My biggest fear is if they decide that less roots or rocks would be better. Will wait for the 29er version. Edit: I just caught their promo video which shows someone doing what equates to a burnout on dirt. Edited November 27, 2018 by AntonioGG 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mack_turtle Posted November 27, 2018 Share Posted November 27, 2018 I want one after Colin Furze modifies it. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JRA Posted November 27, 2018 Share Posted November 27, 2018 We could set up a lake jump on the dock at Fiesta Garden and back flip some scooters. 1 run and done. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mack_turtle Posted November 28, 2018 Share Posted November 28, 2018 Jerks have been joyriding these things all over the places they should not be with virtually no enforcement for months. Now at least they are going to monitor it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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