Former West Hollywood Disabilities Advisory Board member Myra Friedman started a petition asking to ban e-scooters in West Hollywood. She plans to bring the the petition before city council.
“Pedestrians, particularly people  living with disabilities and seniors are now facing constant danger when they try to walk on the sidewalks of West Hollywood,” reads the petition. “E-Scooter riders are illegally riding their rented scooters on the sidewalks, and then abandoning them wherever it is easiest. As a result, the inconsiderate scooter riders are both forcing people to get out of their way, and are leaving the scooters blocking the sidewalks. There have already been several accidents and injuries. If they are allowed to continue to operate in our little city, sadly, more accidents will occur and more people will get hurt! The companies which own the scooters, are taking no responsibility, and neither is the city. We need to let the West Hollywood city council know that we do not want to be put in danger every time we try to walk.  this is an ADA access issue. We need to let our leaders know how we feel before they vote on whether or not to make this program permanent!”
The petition has 279 signatures as of this post.
To sign the petition to ban E-Scooters in West Hollywood, click on the link below:
https://www.change.org/p/ban-dangerous-e-scooters-in-west-hollywood?source_location=search
According to State of California VEHICLE CODE Section 21235, the operator of a motorized scooter shall not do any of the following:
(a) Operate a motorized scooter unless it is equipped with a brake that will enable
the operator to make a braked wheel skid on dry, level, clean pavement.
(b) Operate a motorized scooter on a highway with a speed limit in excess of 25 miles per hour unless the motorized scooter is operated within a class II bicycle lane.
(c) Operate a motorized scooter without wearing a properly fitted and fastened
bicycle helmet that meets the standards described in Section 21212.
(d) Operate a motorized scooter without a valid driver’s license or instruction
permit.
(e) Operate a motorized scooter with any passengers in addition to the operator.
(f) Operate a motorized scooter carrying any package, bundle, or article that
prevents the operator from keeping at least one hand upon the handlebars.
(g) Operate a motorized scooter upon a sidewalk, except as may be necessary to
enter or leave adjacent property.
(h) Operate a motorized scooter on the highway with the handlebars raised so that
the operator must elevate his or her hands above the level of his or her shoulders in order to grasp the normal steering grip area.
(i) Leave a motorized scooter lying on its side on any sidewalk, or park a motorized scooter on a sidewalk in any other position, so that there is not an adequate path for pedestrian traffic.
(j) Attach the motorized scooter or himself or herself while on the roadway, by any means, to any other vehicle on the roadway.
You go girl!
Here we go again… instead of banning scooters, which have proven to be popular AND an effective and helpful transportation alternative into and out of West Hollywood for both residents and non-residents to contribute to the local economy, why doesn’t anyone ask for rules enforcement instead? I just don’t see this epidemic of people riding on sidewalks that the petitioner is claiming, but if it’s as bad as they say… why aren’t they demanding riders are cited for breaking the rules? There isn’t- and hasn’t ever been- true enforcement of the rules regarding escooters. And theoretically if there were, it… Read more »
Watch the video above. That’s all you need to see.
we have been demanding…speaking out loud and clear!! But the city, and the sheriffs department are not enforcing the law! Either they don’t want to, or they are unable to! Not only is this a danger to people living with disabilities, seniors, and able-bodied people, but it is also very clear ADA access violation. Believe me, if the city were even vaguely attempting to enforce the law of keeping illegal scooters off the sidewalks, or if they were really trying to keep people from dumping them on the sidewalks, I would not have started this fight! Some day,, when you… Read more »
Nobody pays attention to ANY rules of enforcement in this clown city. Everybody does what they f_cking want to do. All riders are suppose to wear a helmet as per the instructions on these god awful scooters. They barely enforce the laws in this clown city and state anymore as people flee the city/state in record numbers. Can you ride electric scooters on sidewalk in LA? Obey all traffic laws and don’t ride on the sidewalk, unless you’re under 10. All the rules of the road apply to bicyclists, too (which they don’t ever follow either)- obey traffic signs, signals, and… Read more »