Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Keeping people safe on electric scooters

New York state lawmakers have not yet approved electric scooters in the state, but Rochester is ready for them.

Last week, City Council approved legislation that would make Rochester one of the first cities in the state to take advantage of the law.

If approved, the scooters would be a part of the city’s ride-sharing program operated by Zagster, which has rented Pace bikes around Rochester for three years.

The scooters would be tracked via GPS and their speed restricted, depending on where you are. The fastest it could go is 15 mph. Despite those safeguards, some are concerned about safety risks.

Judy Braiman works for a consumer advocacy group called the Empire State Consumer Project.

“What we did was send a letter to the city of Rochester to investigate before they approve these e-scooters for the city,” said Braiman.

Her letter detailed serious injuries and deaths around the country caused by accidents with these scooters.

“Every state and every city that these electric scooters are being used the people are not wearing helmets,” she said.

Council President Loretta Scott said the letter taught her a lot, but she thinks the good of e-scooters outweighs the bad.

“I think that we have to weigh out those concerns and reservations against those alternatives like cars, and I have not heard the level of injuries are higher than those of automobiles or anyplace close to it,” said Scott.

She said that scooters could be an inexpensive way to fill transportation gaps.

“I understand those concerns and reservations. I also understand the availability of scooters for what they call the last mile in transportation can be a major asset for people who may be otherwise challenges to get to places like work.”

Mayor Lovely Warren’s chief of staff, Alex Yudelson, said he and Scott are a part of an informal working group on the subject within city government and Zagster. Yudelson said he expects to ask for amendments to the law next month that would address liability issues and safety concerns.

State lawmakers are expected to vote on the law in June.

James Brown is a reporter with WXXI News. James previously spent a decade in marketing communications, while freelance writing for CITY Newspaper. While at CITY, his reporting focused primarily on arts and entertainment.