Recently, a USC pupil was concerned in a critical accident whereas riding a Lime scooter. We spoke to college students about the security of these electric scooters and whether or not they may proceed to belief them for his or her every day commute. Sam Reno has extra.
Earlier, USC pupil and treasurer of the Kappa Alpha Fraternity Ty Kawamura was riding a Lime scooter on twenty eighth Street close to Frat Row. An SUV struck him. Kawamura suffered a number of accidents, together with cranium fractures, a torn liver, and a collapsed lung, because of this of the accident.
USC pupil Trish Bazari is a pal of Kawamura.
TRISH BAZARI: It was it’s been fairly life altering. I might say it was actually horrific, getting a FaceTime name from him whereas he was in the hospital and him yelling for assist and simply seeing his face on the digicam, completely bleeding from in every single place. We nonetheless don’t know if that is going to affect him for the relaxation of his life. We hope not, however we’re simply hoping for the finest.
This isn’t the first electric scooter harm this month. According to DPS logs, 5 electric scooter associated accidents have occurred thus far this month. All 5 accidents concerned a motorized vehicle.
The heightened risk will not be misplaced on Bazari and his mates, who say they gained’t be riding once more any time quickly.
TRISH BAZARI: I like scooter’s. Always rode them. Used to do it this semester with all my finest mates too, and simply don’t get on them. I’m, I’m by no means doing it once more and I hope nobody else will both.
For others, like USC freshman Gavin Roberts, the risks of these private modes of transportation, like Lime’s electric scooters, are largely avoidable with some care and a focus.
GAVIN ROBERTS: I believe each time that I’ve actually been in a crash or an accident has been after I wasn’t paying consideration or after I was dozing off or one thing in the distance.
Despite the current incidents, Roberts will preserve riding.
GAVIN ROBERTS: Me personally, I really feel comfy riding an electric scooter. I really feel protected doing it. I’ve coordination. I don’t really feel at risk when riding one.
USC grad pupil Courtney Call has ridden with Lime earlier than, and she or he shares Roberts sentiment that security is essentially in the palms of the rider.
COURTNEY CALL: I believe it actually is dependent upon you, on the way you trip it. So you’re very accountable for your individual security on it. And so if you wish to be very protected, it’s not that arduous, however you’ll be able to simply even be very reckless with it.
She additionally hopes that the college takes lively steps to make sure the security of the rising inhabitants of riders.
COURTNEY CALL: I don’t know a lot about the accident, so I can’t actually converse to that, however I believe possibly if the college wished to make it larger or have folks use them extra typically, they might construct extra buildings particularly for Limes, and that will make it rather a lot safer if somebody is speeding to class or one thing.
Other universities, comparable to San Diego State University, have moved to ban all motorized scooters, however pushback compelled them to choose stricter restrictions and “no-ride zones.”
USC’s present guidelines concerning electric scooters solely drive riders to stick to California automobile legal guidelines, which state riders should use the street and never exceed the 15 mph pace restrict. Their use can also be prohibited in crowded areas comparable to the USC Village.