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Q&A
Discussion on scooter accessibility and safety concerns
2:17:11
·
3 min
Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers leads a discussion on scooter accessibility and safety concerns with representatives from the disability community. The conversation covers issues such as scooter placement, geofencing technology, and potential solutions like corrals.
- Explores the effectiveness of scooter corrals in addressing accessibility issues
- Discusses the need for geofencing and improved technology to prevent scooters from obstructing pathways
- Addresses concerns about scooter noise levels and sidewalk usage
Selvena Brooks-Powers
2:17:11
But going back to you and Jean's point in terms of, the scooters and how they're kinda littered like, this is something that I hear in southeast Queens pretty often, and either you or Jean can answer this question.
2:17:25
In terms of the corrals, DOT has been pushing the corrals thinking that that would be, a fix to seeing them kinda scattered all over the place.
2:17:35
From the disability community's perspective, would that be effective?
2:17:39
Would that address those concerns?
2:17:41
Are there any concerns that you have?
Michael Ring
2:17:42
If the scooter rider were were required to use it I mean, my I have kids.
2:17:47
They they they use the scooters.
2:17:48
They're great.
Michael Capasso
2:17:49
Mhmm.
Michael Ring
2:17:49
But there's no reason for them not to just stop and lean them on a wall outside the subway entrance, and it's gonna fall over.
Jean Ryan
2:17:57
We had asked for
Selvena Brooks-Powers
2:17:59
the mic, please.
2:18:01
Mhmm.
Jean Ryan
2:18:02
We had asked for, geofencing, they call it.
2:18:09
We met with DOT for 1 year.
2:18:12
Actually,
Selvena Brooks-Powers
2:18:13
the geofencing
Jean Ryan
2:18:14
And the manufacturers of the scooters.
2:18:17
DOT and the scooter manufacturers were on this on our monthly meetings.
2:18:22
And I feel like we'd we all feel like we didn't accomplish anything.
2:18:26
We kept pushing for safety and they kept saying, well, we'll come we come around with people and we pick them up.
2:18:33
Well, that doesn't do any good if you're there and you're trying to get on the curb cut and the scooter is there, nobody's gonna help you at the moment.
2:18:41
And, they they said, oh, the technology isn't good enough.
2:18:46
But they can set the technology so you can't, take a scooter now and throw it in the Bronx River because people were doing that.
2:18:57
So I think they have the technology and they just don't wanna spend the time on doing it, because we heard about people in Europe.
2:19:06
They they prevent them from the scooters from going to, like, places where there are a lot of pedestrians or a park or something like that.
2:19:16
They are are they preventing the scooters from going into parks in the neighborhoods that they're in, even now, because they could do that.
2:19:25
So we we just think we're not against scooters.
2:19:29
We we just think it's such a mess now, and and the people are just leaving them all over and riding them on the sidewalks, and they don't make any sound.
2:19:40
And we complain about that every month too.
2:19:43
And there were blind people on that meeting with DOT also.
2:19:47
But it's not just blind people who can't hear the scooters, nobody can.
2:19:51
And if they're behind you, you're never gonna see them, you know.
2:19:56
So why can't they make a noise that you know, not a loud noise, but enough so that you can hear them and you know that they're there, and then they should not ever be on the sidewalks.
2:20:06
We don't think they should be parked by a bodega either.
2:20:09
They should be in the curb, you know, by the curb.
2:20:12
So the corrals,
Selvena Brooks-Powers
2:20:14
do you think, is Yes.
Gale A. Brewer
2:20:15
Better a
Selvena Brooks-Powers
2:20:15
better solution?
2:20:16
Okay.
2:20:17
Thank you.
2:20:17
You're welcome.
2:20:19
Mic, 3 by 3.
2:20:23
No.
2:20:23
I'll
Michael Capasso
2:20:24
When do I
Selvena Brooks-Powers
2:20:24
press the button.