Segways were invented 17 years ago, but the technology feels as if it's been dead for a while. So why are scooters continuing to attract cities and investors?
Brad Stone estimates the electric scooter share business with 10,000 scooters on the roads is making about $100,0000 in revenue every day, with plenty of room to keep growing. While much has been written about dockless scooters clogging up sidewalks, investors seem to think this transit mode has legs. "Meanwhile, both Uber Technologies Inc. and Lyft Inc. have applied to introduce e-scooters in San Francisco, where the local government is set to authorize a pilot program after temporarily clearing the city of scooters last month," Stone reports.
Stone sees the price point and on-demand model as the key reason this transit mode survives while vehicles like Segways failed in the past. A ride on a Bird or LIme e-scooter costs around $2 for a 6-minute trip, so there's not much to keep curious consumers from trying them out.
FULL STORY: Here’s How Scooter Startups Solved the Segway Problem
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Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California High-Speed Rail's Plan to Right Itself
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US Senate Reverses California EV Mandate
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Trump Cuts Decimate Mapping Agency
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Washington Passes First US ‘Shared Streets’ Law
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Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
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City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions