LogFAQs > #910779370

Yeah, they are all over seattle, but.....they are not really that great (unless your really out of shape maybe).

Generally this is how it works.

$1 to unlock the scooter...which can be left anywhere, then, I think it's 20 cents per minute of use. The scooter goes up to 15 mph, but you can't ride (or are not supposed to ride) them on the sidewalks, and your supposed to have a helmet as well.

Best scenerio for the scooter? You are by yourself, and need to go about 5 miles away for instance. In such a case, you could in theory find a scooter nearby (in the direction youa re going) unlock it, and travel the 5 miles in 30 minutes (if you could go 15 mph the whole time it would be 20...but.....you have stop lights etc....30 minutes is a good estimate.

Meanwhile that costs you $1 base + 30/5...or about $7 total.

Uber even for 1 person would probably be cheaper...and honestly faster as well, and if it's more then 1 person.......obviously uber would be cheaper at that point.

Also, because of average speed, stopping for lights etc, walking, if you are in even semi decent shape, isn't THAT much slower. You only walk about 4mph at a decent clip, versus about double that (or 2.5x as fast) on the scooter. I'm not really sure if you can get fines etc if you don't have a helmet (no way to enforce helmet use other then that).

It does have some advantages in places like Seattle (or SF if it was legal there, it isn't), that have very steep hills etc though.

Few things I think would make it better. Dedecated lanes/space for the scooters to ride in (since you are not supposed to use the sidewalks, although people do anyway).

Set docking stations instead of just dropping them wherever, perhaps reduced charge if you bring it to a docking station as well.

Reduced charge anyway to make it more economical compared to say uber (seriously I rarely would see a situation where uber isn't better...at least if you are not just traveling alone.

In many places where these are available there is also free transportation (like Seattle, or was that portland i always get that mixed up).

Honestly you don't even need a scooter most of the time (or any power) if your going downhill (breaks would be important), so I would have the charge based on energy/electricity used mainly, and time as a secondary (so someone just doesn't stand around with the scooter and hog it etc.

It's a novel concept, but it needs to change a bit I think to really explode. If you could use one for an hour for $3 or so......total.....that would be a totally different story. But you can usually travel 5-10 miles via uber etc for far less then with one of these scooters.
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