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Culture > News

E-Scooters Are Taking Over Edmonton

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at U Alberta chapter.

The e-scooters are taking over Edmonton. 

Two companies, Bird and Lime have launched their e-scooters on Edmonton streets in the past few weeks (and a couple of them have found their way into the Legislature Pools). Driving down Whyte Ave you will see people of all ages zipping around on the scooters. Here are a few pros and cons of the scooter invasion:

Pro: The e-scooters are quite cost effective! It is around $1 to start them up and then around 30 cents for each minute you ride. You pay only for how much you use.

Con: There are no docking or charging stations, so the sidewalks are littered with abandoned scooters and they are already being found in inappropriate places (re: the Legislature Wading Pool). This is a potential tripping hazard, and blocked sidewalks can be even more frustrating for individuals with accessibility challenges.

Pro: Ditching the car and choosing to ‘scoot’ around is more environmentally friendly! We love a sustainable move.

Con: Scooters cannot be used on sidewalks (even though they are parked there), and can only be used on shared paths, bike lanes, and roads with a speed limit below 50 km/h. These rules are in place for safety and cooperation between various motorists, however it might be difficult to get to certain areas due to the limitations.

Pro: The scooters all are tracked with GPS so they cannot be easily stolen, which was a major concern of citizens before the launch.

Con: Although they are intended for adult use, anyone with an app connected to a credit card can access the scooters and ride to their hearts content.

Pro: Return to your youth and ‘scoot’ around the city! A hipster photo-op is an added bonus.

 

https://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/here-s-what-you-need-to-know-about-riding-an-e-scooter-in-edmonton-1.4555327

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/edmonton-e-scooters-1.5250807

https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/ditched-e-scooters-close-down-legislature-wading-pool

Robin is a senior student at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta. She is getting a Science Degree, with a Psychology major and a double minor in Sociology & Biology. Part-time jobs, full-time classes, various student groups and volunteering fill most of her time. Robin is the 2020/2021 President of Her Campus at UAlberta and served as the social media director for the 2018/2019 year!