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The age of scooter sharing is upon us [CNN Money]

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StuffinMuffin
864 Rider Driver
 Posted 6 years, 2 months ago

Not sure if I want this age.

https://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2018/07/09/electric-scooters-regulation-cities-dockless-sharing.cnnmoney/index.html

Comments

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    RedANT
    1072 Rider Driver
     6 years ago

    So am I the only "Bird charger" in these forums?  frown 

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      UberBlackenedZ
      32
       6 years ago

      You are actually one of those chargers?!!  

      Not to side step too much, I lose my wallet often in the house.  So often that my wife got me one of those GPS chips that you put in a wallet so your iPhone app can find it.  When I turn the app on, the wallet beeps.  If I can't hear the beep, it tires to show me on a GPS, and displays the signal strength.

      I still cannot find it half the time.

      So m y quesiton to you is....how hard is it to find these Birds?  There has to be great stories behind where you have found them. People are creative (and also stupid).

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    SmittenKitten
    2098 Rider
     6 years ago

    Isn't their competition the consumers themselves?  The most avid users of these scooters (like the ones we see in the video) would just go out and buy them, right?    It's very different than a car where you have trouble parking it at home or work.

    ...or are they saying the economics work out where it'd be cheaper to rent than own one? That's the question, right?

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    regardingjessie
    4
     6 years ago

    My money says this will never really take off. A lot of hype right now, companies are trying to push it just like segways but nah, scooter sharing is dumb.

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      StuffinMuffin
      OP 864 Rider Driver
       6 years ago

      I'd love to know what the critical mass required is to make this business profitable?  For one dollar for 30 minutes?

      I can already see all the broken scooters strewn all over the streets. Abandoned 

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        MelissaMyers
        139 Rider
         6 years ago

        Profit?  What profit?  That isn't even the goal here for these companies. They won't make profits until they have won the marketshare and dominates the market as the sole survivor.

        Welcome to the world of start-ups.

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        regardingjessie
        4
         6 years ago

        yes, i couldnt agree more. I have already read some articles on the issues of sccoters taking up sidewalk space and being left against establishments.

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      chicago49
      253 Driver
       6 years ago

      Just so ya know. It already took off. Scooters are here to stay!

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    TrixiForkids
    71
     6 years ago

    These scooter riders look super annoying.  See them cut off all those pedestrians.

    Not far from them getting regulated.  I mean, not even helmets?  It's all fun and games until a kid runs, falls, and stabs his eye out with scissors.

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    chicago49
    253 Driver
     6 years ago

    Getting cars off the street? reducing traffic?? Sign me up!!

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    sallyT
    20
     6 years ago

    Uber is already offering scooter rides via their app in some cities in the U.S.. There are 3 main players in the industry right now: Bird, Skip, and Lime. Bird and Lime both have at least $1B in funding. Skip has about 500 million. Did segways have that much funding when they first came out?

    From what I understand, these scooters would NOT replace car transportation, but rather transportation that would previously been walking. It is nice for shorter distances. 

    Late for a meeting 10 blocks away? Grab a scooter! 

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    ant
    122 Rider
     6 years ago

    I love them. So convenient and fun. And you can stash them wherever you are going, if you are clever enough, so no one else will take it and you can ride it back later.

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      DFosterG11
      187
       6 years ago

      I hide mine in the building lobby just so it's still there for the way home.  Sure people can find it through GPS, but I don't want to draw any attention to it.

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    kias_revenge
    133 Rider
     6 years ago

    So much trash though. Between this and the dockless bike sharing. I see them EVERYWHERE. They are literally litter.