Hurricane Dorian is forcing scooter rental services to pull their rides from streets

[Shawn Knight]

In brief: Hurricane Dorian is intensifying as it inches closer to what is increasingly looking like a direct strike with Florida. Experts forecast Dorian could be a category four storm by the time it makes landfall – likely on Labor Day – and when it does finally hit, it’ll present a unique issue.

Like many major metropolitan areas across the country, top destinations including Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Tampa are littered with rentable electric scooters from companies such as Bird, Lime, Bolt, Jump, Spin and Lyft. With a major storm brewing, these dockless scooters could potentially become deadly flying projectiles in just a few days and city officials aren’t taking any chances.

Yes, ALL #scooters will be removed from @CityofMiami streets by Friday. Winds expected to increase on Saturday evening. #HurricaneDorian #scooternado

— Ken Russell Miami (@kenrussellmiami) August 29, 2019

As Bloomberg highlights, the city of Miami has ordered all scooter rental services to decommission their rides by noon on Friday. Tampa hasn’t yet issued a removal request but if (or when) it does, companies will have 12 hours to comply. A spokesperson for the city told The Verge that vendors appear prepared for that requirement should it come to fruition.

A spokesperson for Lime said it had around 1,500 scooters on the streets of Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Tampa. The company is collecting them and putting them in storage until the storm passes. Lime also decommissioned its fleet when Hurricane Irma struck two years ago.

Jump said it will meet Miami's deadline and could remove scooters from Tampa should the storm head that way. Bird is monitoring the storm and may also remove scooters from operation. Spin, Bolt and Lyft didn't reply to The Verge's request for comment.

Masthead credit: Bird scooters by Arne Beruldsen

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/81688-hurricane-dorian-forcing-scooter-rental-services-pull-their.html

 

[Nero7]

Hopefully we can get rid of this epidemic.

These scooters appeared world wide it seems. Do they seek data or?

 

[ShagnWagn]

So, right when people would "need" them most? lol. There could be a tornado here at any time, so they need to permanently remove them if this is the case.

They are abandoned commercial vehicles. Fine them a tow fee for each one. They are illegal parked, so I can't believe cities aren't issuing parking fines for each one of them. They could really be raking it in. They are a nuisance, a hazard sitting everywhere, litter the sidewalks as trash, and are a major eyesore. Plus they are a hazard and a traffic obstacle. Let's add that these companies are profiting on making people fat - one ride at a time! Pretty soon they will have levitating beds like in Wall-E.

 

[Nero7]

So, right when people would "need" them most? lol. There could be a tornado here at any time, so they need to permanently remove them if this is the case.

They are abandoned commercial vehicles. Fine them a tow fee for each one. They are illegal parked, so I can't believe cities aren't issuing parking fines for each one of them. They could really be raking it in. They are a nuisance, a hazard sitting everywhere, litter the sidewalks as trash, and are a major eyesore. Plus they are a hazard and a traffic obstacle. Let's add that these companies are profiting on making people fat - one ride at a time! Pretty soon they will have levitating beds like in Wall-E.

You flee from a Tornado on a scooter??? You sure you mean Tornado there's a Hurricane coming.

 

[ShagnWagn]

You flee from a Tornado on a scooter??? You sure you mean Tornado there's a Hurricane coming.

I was referring to the hurricane the article was about. The tornado comment was referencing their concern about them being a projectile.

 

[Indekkusu]

Aren't Birds supposed to fly? It would be most appropriate. And Spin with the hurricane should only be natural, as well as getting a Lyft with the wind. It seems they should all join the Dorian for the fun!