Ensemble doesn’t like scooters
It’s being reported around that city hall opposition doesn’t like Bird or Lime scooters. Again, why is this news? The correct response is “That’s nice, dear.”
(By the way, technically, does a city council even have an “official opposition” the way a full-scale Westminster-style parliament does? Or is it just journalists inflating the role of the second-largest party?)
Uatu 09:57 on 2020-01-17 Permalink
Probably because lime has been recently been pulling out of some markets and laying off staff. Maybe they’re trying to ride the wave of disapproval to get rid of them. Which is no big loss. The scooters are just sidewalk obstacles that are transported from place to place.
Blork 11:11 on 2020-01-17 Permalink
I doubt this opposition has anything to do with Lime’s pulling out of other cities (why would Mtl’s opposition give AF about that?). More likely just the standard griping about anything that’s not “business as usual circa 1970.”
Ephraim 12:20 on 2020-01-17 Permalink
As a pedestrian… hate them. Probably wouldn’t if they would follow the law and stay off the sidewalk. But I still don’t understand who takes these things… expensive like heck and dangerous and do they really get you anywhere quickly?
Blork 13:22 on 2020-01-17 Permalink
I too am annoyed by seeing them splayed all over the sidewalks. That said, I can see their appeal because I’m sure they’re fun to ride and it’s potentially a good way to cover a relatively short distance quickly.
For example, let’s say you’re coming out of Brutopia on Crescent and you get a text that your buddies are all over at one of the Ramen shops on Ste-Catherine near St-Marc. Hey, there’s a Lime scooter, so you jump on and zip over there in about four minutes, knocking over only three or four pedestrians and causing hardly any cars to swerve to avoid you. And that would cost what, three bucks? Less than the cost of each of the four lattes you had today, so cheap. And since you’re a millennial you’re used to spending money that way because your GenX/Boomer parents RUINED EVERYTHING and therefore you are convinced that you will NEVER HAVE ANYTHING since those older fuckers took everything and left nothing for you.
So yeah, that’s fun.
jeather 16:23 on 2020-01-17 Permalink
Taking some cues from qatzi about weird screeds?
qatzelok 17:37 on 2020-01-17 Permalink
While I also don’t like tripping over them, we do need every alternative to Giant, killer trucks and SUVs.
Ian 23:29 on 2020-01-17 Permalink
More battery operated toys isn’t the answer, especially as we know lithium batteries are a resource that is gathered in a way that exploits workers.
I mostly see these clustered around McGill or in clubland, these are toys. Blork’s rant aside they do truly only seem to appeal to a certain category of consumers in very specific contexts.
qatzelok 09:25 on 2020-01-18 Permalink
I look at them like toys.. .that you can also get around on. Sort of like Mustangs, Jeep CJs and other “lifestyle” vehicles. All of the large, gasl-burning or electric battery toy cars consume more and destroy at lower speeds than those poor little Limes.
Raymond Lutz 15:18 on 2020-01-18 Permalink
Lithium, source of workers exploitation. And war? https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/12/morales-claims-orchestrated-coup-tap-bolivia-lithium-191225053622809.html (à prendre avec un grain de sel…de lithium?)
Faiz imam 18:21 on 2020-01-18 Permalink
I’ve gotten into Li-ion battery recycling, and the packs in scooters are pretty great. Those scooters are quite easy to break up for parts when their life ends.