Jerk on a tiny scooter

[Salos Dafee]

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Today I saw a harrowing sight, I mean I saw someone cheerfully dodging death or mutilation by inches, time after time.
This was on a main thoroughfare, where the speed limit is 45 MPH = about 72 KPH, and three lanes of traffic were
going near the limit. Imagine Eglinton Avenue east of Victoria Park Avenue, but with more driveways for autos to
dart into or from.

A young man was standing on a peppy upright scooter, keeping up with traffic, and switching very often from
the curb lane to the middle lane and back as traffic flowed along, adapting to conditions and traffic lights.
The scooter was obviously electrically powered, and its handlebars were the widest part, no more than 45 cm.
It appeared as if the rider was shifting his body weight to steer, but perhaps he was minutely adjusting the
angle of the handlebar; I could not tell. I saw all this from the 3rd-lane-from-the-curb, because I was
approaching the place for my left turn. I made that turn, and lost sight of the daredevil.

And folks think WE are nuts!

 

[MacDoc]

While I tend to agree it is injurying defying it is no different than bicyclists who routinely disobey laws of the road.
At least here in Cairns I can "zip between cars" legally on the motorcycle under certain conditions.
The new urban scoots are awsome
85 km range and not cheap.

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Is he a jerk ? Why?

 

[Wingboy]

The roads are NOT anyone's playground. Ya, he's a jerk.

 

[mimico_polak]

Almost hit a guy on one of those yesterday. About to make a left turn from burnhamthorpe onto Mavis but at the last second notice a blue light driving toward me….faint blue LED vertical line.

Guy was clipping in the middle lane of Burnhamthorpe where average speed is 70-85kph in a 60 zone. Couldn’t believe how fast that thing was moving.

 

[MacDoc]

I wonder how Netherlands and Copenhagen are coping with these rockets. Saw two good size teens two up on one today.
Talked to one older gent about my age near the Cairns Lagoon. He had just got it and loved it. By looks he'd spent $4-5k on his.

Me I had to park the CB300, pull the gear off - find a spot to stow it then go swim and reverse the effort.
He just zipped up, towel around his neck, parked along the seawall where he could see it while he went swimming, dried off and moved on home.
Safe ?....no Convenient ? Hell yes for zipping around town......Startling ??? indeed given the speeds.
Not condoning ...just observing. There was even an EV skateboard zinging along the boardwalk at Palm Cove

 

[Dirty Frank]

You should see the show where they rent those bird rental scooters most of the scooter customers skill level is such that they believe bailing off is the best solution in a panic stop.

 

[MacDoc]

Physics of those things scares the hell out me. Teenie wheels, teenie brake surfaces, zero rake and even with shocks stll going to be teeth rattling on less that perfect pavement.

But advantages are clear, pre teens/early teens around here have it made for going to school, perfect pavement and clear bike lanes ( nice for me for filtering ), easier to secure or just carry tho I'd guess the bigger ones are heavy with the battery.
No license or insurance - just plug it in over night. Leading edge of EV tsunami.

 

[mimico_polak]

If my commute was < 10km I’d have one of those for sure. Or those tiny electric bikes I could bring into the office.

As it stands…60km….no. Not many options at that distance.

 

[Nikola Tesla]

Saw one downtown Toronto on Spadina at night yesterday, had pretty good lights on it, was surprised how fast he was going those things move pretty good!

 

[Salos Dafee]

Thanks, all, for the information and for the opinion that there are lots of daredevils on little scooters, and we need to get ready for
more of them, wherever we are, and whatever we are driving or riding. Thank you especially, MacDoc for the views from Cairns!
That pool is immense, and even with that super wide-angle view not all the water surface is shown!

I live at latitude 28º North, and Brisbane (capital of Queensland Australia) is at 28º South, so OZ crosses my mind from time
to time. My son reported that a drive from Melbourne at the SE corner of Australia to Cairns near the NE corner was a delightful
and educational experience.

Could I get accustomed to two handbrakes and no clutch at all?
Perhaps. I rode an electric scooter briefly, just around the store's parking lot, and was I careful with those brakes? You BET!
But I would stay in my lane, and try to project the notion that I own my lane from paint to paint or curb (or kerb).

Salos Dafee

 

[PrivatePilot]

Karma catches up to these sorts of people eventually. Sooner than later usually.

 

[mimico_polak]

Karma catches up to these sorts of people eventually. Sooner than later usually.

Meh. Karma is technically the next lifetime.

What will catch up with them in this lifetime is typically a inattentive driver/pedestrian.

Quick trip to the next life.

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