NPR

As E-Scooters Roll Into American Cities, So Do Safety Concerns

Electric scooters zoom through traffic in many cities these days, and have the potential to take cars off the road. But experts worry that the many riders who forgo safety gear are taking big risks.
Scooters and bicycles are spreading across several major U.S. cities while policymakers are scrambling to find ways to ensure that riders are safe.

Over the past year, companies have been rolling out electric scooters by the thousands in cities across the country — from Washington, D.C. to Milwaukee, to Lubbock, Texas. People download the app, find a nearby scooter and then just unlock and ride. But as these shared scooters have spread, so have concerns about safety.

Portland, Oregon is in the middle of a four-month . You see these scooters everywhere — parked on sidewalks (they don't require docking stations like most shared bikes do,) taking fast corners, zipping through traffic. But

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from NPR

NPR3 min read
The Original 'Harry Potter' Book Cover Art Is Expected To Break Records At Auction
Sotheby's June 26 auction of Thomas Taylor's watercolor illustration for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is estimated to sell for $400,000-$600,000.
NPR2 min readCrime & Violence
Canadian Police Arrest 3 Suspects In The Slaying Of A Sikh Separatist Leader
Police said they arrested three Indian nationals in the slaying of Hardeep Singh Nijjar last June that became the center of a diplomatic spat with India.
NPR2 min read
Mystik Dan Wins The Kentucky Derby By A Nose
In a close finish, Mystik Dan won the Kentucky Derby by a horse's nostril over Sierra Leone. Contenders waited with bated breath in the seconds before the official decision was made. The thoroughbred had entered the race with 18-1 odds — a longshot c

Related Books & Audiobooks