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Motorized Scooter Share Program in SoWal?

jodiFL avatar
jodiFLBeach Fanatic
10,383 views
This will be a disaster! Please let your commissioners know these things are not for our area. During a recent trip to Dallas I got to see first hand all about these things. People just drop them where ever they dont need them anymore. They NEVER get returned to the "stations" and are a hazard to people trying to walk.drive anywhere in Dallas. They are laying all over the streets, in bushes,driveways,doorways. I couldnt believe what a mess and how the city just left them laying around everywhere. They are not tended to and you just have to scan a QR code with a Lyft or Uber app to use them. If you get on that the battery is dead on just drop it where it stops and find another one to scan. HORRIBLE business model for this area.

E-scooters on the horizon in Walton County
While some people think electric scooters are a fun way to get around, others say they can cause an increase in clutter.

"Very specific areas where people can pick those up and leave them at, kind of like bike racks," said Jay Odinokov, owner of local business E-Motion.

Odinokov says officials need to carefully regulate electric scooter rentals in Walton County.

"There's definitely a lot of good things that come with electric scooters, it's just, what is the best way to do it?" he said.

Walton County Commissioner Tony Anderson asked the county attorney to look at the recently passed state law and how other cities are handling scooters.

"He just wants the information, he wants to find out what these scooters are about, how the rentals work and see going forward what Walton County will have available to them," said Louis Svehla, Public Information Officer for the Walton County Board of Commissioners.

The Board of Commissioners is aware of the high tourism traffic in Walton County, according to Svehla, but he adds the electric scooters would be no different than what people already see with cars, bikes, and carts.

Edited

Replies

46
bob1Beach Fanatic
#2
If a commissioner's family or friend wants in, they'll be welcomed. Just like golf carts.

I've been surprised we haven't seen an explosion of motorized scooters like other tourist towns. Hopefully when they come they'll at least be electric. Maybe electric bikes will be the thing.

Golf carts are the worst thing SoWal residents have ever had to swallow?
jodiFL avatar
jodiFLBeach FanaticAuthor
#31
I think these thing will be even worse than golf carts. scooooooooooooooooooooooooter.jpg
DuchessBeach Lover
#4
These would be a huge huge detriment on our area. Atlanta is having so many problems with these, from what I understand. The CDC has asked local ERs to start documenting injuries. And they would be all over the bike paths. Atlanta has resorted to using geofencing to halve the speeds on the scooters during peak times on the Beltline (popular ATL bike/walking path) from 16 mph to 8. Just say no!!!
blindrid avatar
blindridBeach Lover
#5
First of all, golf carts have proven to be of little issue. Scooters with proper regulations have proven to work. In saying that, any scooters not returned properly should be confiscated. I’m hoping in doing that the renter of the scooter would be penalized. Not having rented one, I’m hoping there is some type of “deposit “ for the lack of a better term to penalize the renter.
outofadreamBeach Fanatic
#6
First of all, golf carts have proven to be of little issue. Scooters with proper regulations have proven to work. In saying that, any scooters not returned properly should be confiscated. I’m hoping in doing that the renter of the scooter would be penalized. Not having rented one, I’m hoping there is some type of “deposit “ for the lack of a better term to penalize the renter.
Hey blindrid..you must be blind if you think that golf carts have proven to be of little issue on 30A!...Golf carts on 30A are a safety hazard ...people overload them there are no seatbelts and the authorities do nothing..if I drove my car the way some of the people who drive these carts do I’d be ticketed. No seat belts kids hanging out and people under the influence of alcohol
blindrid avatar
blindridBeach Lover
#7
Obviously we disagree. Sure, there are idiots driving autos, golf carts, skateboards, scooters, etc. That doesn’t change the legality and obviously, those doing stupid things should be written up. Sounds like some people assume they are under the influence but may or may not be. That’s why one buys in an area that is not overwrought with tourists.
bob bob avatar
bob bobBeach Fanatic
#8
Obviously we disagree. Sure, there are idiots driving autos, golf carts, skateboards, scooters, etc. That doesn’t change the legality and obviously, those doing stupid things should be written up. Sounds like some people assume they are under the influence but may or may not be. That’s why one buys in an area that is not overwrought with tourists.
lol
Golf cart vendors always stick out big time on this forum. So how many scooters will be in your first shipment?
blindrid avatar
blindridBeach Lover
#9
Bob: I do not have a dog in this hunt but am continually amazed at the narrow minded attitude found in this forum. The area is built on tourism and should expect the bad with the good. Any sarcasm should be vented toward those that complain against the tourists as that what makes this area’s economy.
Will B avatar
Will BModerator
#10
First of all, golf carts have proven to be of little issue. Scooters with proper regulations have proven to work. In saying that, any scooters not returned properly should be confiscated. I’m hoping in doing that the renter of the scooter would be penalized. Not having rented one, I’m hoping there is some type of “deposit “ for the lack of a better term to penalize the renter.

Their business model is built around people being able to use them and leave them wherever they want. The apps for the respective companies show where the scooters are and how much of a charge is left. The user scans a QR code with the app which unlocks the scooter for a dollar. After that, they are about fifteen cents per minute. When you're done, just get off and leave it for the next person who may want to use it. They don't get returned anywhere.

At the end of the night there are people who collect them to charge them and to make any necessary repairs. They will generally put them back out in one or two specific starting spots for the day.
jodiFL avatar
jodiFLBeach FanaticAuthor
#11
I can see it now...groups of teens zipping in and out and around the 30A traffic. Inebriated folks bar hopping on them on the bike paths (is there such a thing as SUI?) Hopefully they can fund EMTs on every corner to take care of all the mishaps.
kayti elliott avatar
kayti elliottBeach Lover
#12
Would they be any more of a nuisance than people on the thousands of bicycles?
jodiFL avatar
jodiFLBeach FanaticAuthor
#13
Wont be long before they outlaw cars/trucks on 30A and just give it to the scooters.bikes.golf carts.
DuchessBeach Lover
#14
Would they be any more of a nuisance than people on the thousands of bicycles?
Yes yes yes yes!! It would be much worse. They're left strewn *everywhere* when people are done with them. Driveways, front yards, parking spaces, and of course littering sidewalks & paths. Walton County does NOT want these!
Lake View Too avatar
Lake View TooSoWal Insider
#15
Whatever happened to walking as a way to get from place to place?
Truman avatar
TrumanBeach Fanatic
#16
Bob: I do not have a dog in this hunt but am continually amazed at the narrow minded attitude found in this forum. The area is built on tourism and should expect the bad with the good. Any sarcasm should be vented toward those that complain against the tourists as that what makes this area’s economy.
This forum IS YOUR community, sorry you feel out of place. Not everyone is chasing dollars or bowing down to the almighty tourist. You can do business here and help us to preserve the quality of live and preserve what makes SoWal special. Be discriminating.
James BentwoodBeach Fanatic
#17
Yes yes yes yes!! It would be much worse. They're left strewn *everywhere* when people are done with them. Driveways, front yards, parking spaces, and of course littering sidewalks & paths. Walton County does NOT want these!
Unfortunately you are correct. BUT take note - this is what is happening with bikes. Rental companies and resorts have become their own bike rental companies and treat bikes this way. Drop em wherever you want and we'll pick them up later or charge a fee.
Sweet Pot Pie avatar
Sweet Pot PieBeach Comber
#18
This will be a disaster! Please let your commissioners know these things are not for our area. During a recent trip to Dallas I got to see first hand all about these things. People just drop them where ever they dont need them anymore. They NEVER get returned to the "stations" and are a hazard to people trying to walk.drive anywhere in Dallas. They are laying all over the streets, in bushes,driveways,doorways. I couldnt believe what a mess and how the city just left them laying around everywhere. They are not tended to and you just have to scan a QR code with a Lyft or Uber app to use them. If you get on that the battery is dead on just drop it where it stops and find another one to scan. HORRIBLE business model for this area.

E-scooters on the horizon in Walton County
Add a few Starbucks to the mix and the area will be crawling with hipsters
blindrid avatar
blindridBeach Lover
#19
My last comment:
1) I didn’t mean to ruffle feathers;
2) everyone has reacted before there is a problem;
3) yes it’s illegal to operate even a bicycle under the influence;
4) whether one likes it or not, the tourism $ is an important part of the local economy which also supports real estate values;
5) So if everyone is not bowing to tourism, we are whether we like it or not as that supports local retail and creates the supply and demand for services, businesses and real estate.

In closing, I hope everyone has a great evening and hope we don’t invent problems that come and go throughout our lifetime. I’m looking forward to good sand, good water and great sunsets.
James BentwoodBeach Fanatic
#20
My last comment:
1) I didn’t mean to ruffle feathers;
2) everyone has reacted before there is a problem;
3) yes it’s illegal to operate even a bicycle under the influence;
4) whether one likes it or not, the tourism $ is an important part of the local economy which also supports real estate values;
5) So if everyone is not bowing to tourism, we are whether we like it or not as that supports local retail and creates the supply and demand for services, businesses and real estate.

In closing, I hope everyone has a great evening and hope we don’t invent problems that come and go throughout our lifetime. I’m looking forward to good sand, good water and great sunsets.
1) you ruffle cliches.
2) that is how problems are prevented in the first place
3) not sure how that relates to a product we foresee as a problem even when everyone is sober.
4) not everyone owns property, you seem to only be able to see your own point of view. No offense, that means you're normal.
5) Once again, we do not all swing to your rhythm of supply and demand. I've heard the "without tourism we starve" argument so many times and it's insulting. Economies exist everywhere. If we are going to focus on the economy as our most important issue then we should be spending energy on diversification instead of simply bleeding tourists.

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