It’s the magical new mode of transportation that us Millennials and Gen Z’ers can’t seem to get enough of. Popping up in cities and on college campuses all across the country, it seems as if this phenomenon is inescapable. Yep, that’s right, I’m talking about electric scooters. Whether it be a Bird, Lime, Lyft, Uber, or Jump, these rental scooters are easy to access via their respective apps, and easy to ditch once you get to your desired location.
However, I am here to warn you of the dangers of using these seemingly harmless devices. Taking a trip down memory lane, we arrive at the night before my high school graduation in May 2018. The Warriors were playing the Cavaliers in game 7 of the NBA playoffs, and I had just finished a scrumptious dinner at my local Mexican restaurant. It was getting dark and my friends suggested scootering back to her house since it was less than a mile away and quicker than waiting for our other friend to come pick us up. Hopping on some nearby scooters, we began our trek back home. My first time on one, I began to understand the appeal of these scooters. The wind blowing through my hair, I felt free as I raced my pals down the street. However, this freedom was soon cut short as I looked back to find my friends that I had left in the dust. Almost as if in slow motion, I let go of the handlebar, rammed my scooter into a curb, and flew off landing on my hands and knees. One pair of ruined jeans, two bloody knees, and three broken fingers later, I proudly prepared to receive my diploma the next day whilst adorning what became known as the “claw” (aka the splints I had to wear on each broken finger).
Bringing this discussion back to campus, when asked about how one felt about the presence of scooters at UCLA, students responded with mixed reviews. Some swore by these scooters, emphasizing that without them there is no way they would make their 8am lectures, while others saw them as a nuisance that encourages recklessness. Whether you enjoy the thrill of tandem scootering with your significant other or manage to always trip over the fallen scooters on your way back to the Hill, it seems as if we won’t be saying goodbye to our motorized friends for a while. We all know the daily scare of being runover by a Bird-er gone rogue, but I leave you to answer the time old question of whether or not the pros outweigh the cons.
Lastly, above all else, I end with some final advice I hope you won’t take lightly: never go full throttle on a Bird.
