INBOX: Dear Parents and Principals, I am Begging You…Motorized Scooters Belong On The Street
Dear Parents and Principals,
Today I was walking up Albany Avenue past a school with my 3 year old, 5 year old and 7 year old holding the stroller nicely. innocent enough.
I quickly realized I had made a big mistake. Oh no, it was dismissal time! But this time it was too late. Lots and lots of scooters on the sidewalk. I am someone who usually learns from my mistakes, but I forgot! Too late. I am already here. Scooters at all speeds on the sidewalk whizzing by; some motorized, some not. Most of them a danger to my kids.
Then it happened. A boy on large motorized scooter almost crashed into my 3 year old… Missed him by an inch. I am still shaking.
I asked this bar mitzvah boy driving the scooter to please please be careful and that he really belongs on the street with that, but he just looked at me really not understanding what in the world it was that I wanted from him.
I just heard yesterday of a shliach who was visiting Crown Heights and while innocently walking on the sidewalk was knocked to the ground by a Lubavitcher boy on a scooter.
These are not hoodlums or non-Jews riding on the sidewalk (the majority of them, at least). These are our sons, grandsons, nephews and brothers riding something motorized that can and does go very fast in a space that is designated for pedestrians. In one word: Danger.
Dear parents, from one parent to another, I am begging you to do some serious soul searching.
Is it really worth it for your son to endanger others several times a day, every weekday for the sake of his own fun or convenience?
According to the law, e-scooters are prohibited on NYC sidewalks. The reason is simple. Because they are a danger to the innocent people trying to walk on the sidewalk.
Please can you make sure your son stays on the street where these scooters belong. I understand that you might not want to because of the cars, trucks and buses. Ah, now you understand exactly how we feel when your son is riding an e-scooter on the sidewalk near our little (or big) children.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
A Crown Heights mother who is holding out hope for change.
Bubby
I agree. I was almost hit more than once. When I told a boy that he needed to go on the street, he looked at me as if I were crazy. They really need to ban these scooters from all sidewalks!!! I can’t understand why parents buy them. Aside from the danger of seriously hurting someone, these scooters batteries have actually exploded causing serious fires in buildings.
These motorized forms of transportation MUST be regulated and controlled
Unfortunately, they are ALL dangerous wherever they are ridden, whether on the sidewalk or in the street. To motorists and pedestrians!
What really needs to happen is for DMV registration and licensing to be required to make the users legally and financially responsible.
Whether riding to work, yeshiva or l’havdil delivering food these vehicles are dangerous: tragedy just one step behind.
Hit
I was once hit by a motorized scooter with the rebbe watching. The rebbe blamed ME for not being careful. REBBES AND TEACHERS TEACH YOUR STUDENTS TO BE CAREFUL WITH THEIR SCOOTERS AND BIKES.
Bus driver
Once while dropping off a preschool child, as the child was getting off the bus, there was about a two feet distance between the boy and his waiting father, a bochur on an electric scooter went right between them with total disregard.
Bikes going wrong way on street are also dangerous
Thank you for bringing this up. The same also applies to scooters and bikes that are going the opposite direction than cars do on one-way streets. Many people find it hard to turn their heads quickly & focus on what’s doing behind, to the left and to the front of them, while walking straight ahead. And being startled by something zooming past is also far from safe. Please take this to heart!
betty
THESE BOYS ARE NOT MATURE ENOUGH NOR DO THEY HAVE A LICENSE TO BE ABLE TO RIDE IN THE STREET. THEY HAVE NO SENSE AND ARE NOT OBSERVANT WHEN DRIVING THEIR SCOOTERS. I SUGGEST THEY GET TRAINING THEY NEED TO DRIVE MORE CAUTIOUSLY, JUST THE SAME AS ADULT DRIVERS TAKE DRIVING LESSONS.
I SEE THEM WHEN THEY DRIVE IN THE STREET. THEY ARE OBLIVIOUS TO THEIR SURROUNDING AND ARE IN DANGER FROM THE VEHICLES
Mendel
It is shock to me that a Jew can attack another Jew. Reading about a Shaliach knocked to the ground is horrifying. This absolutely needs to stop. It is terrible that one Jew has no sense of respect for another Jew. If you are riding a motorized scooter don’t go on the sidewalk. We are not Arabs. Go in the street or buy a non motorized scooter.
Anonymous
I’ve taken to walking in the street as close to parked vehicles as possible, although I realize this isn’t ideal. The reason, motorized scooters, motorbikes, etc. are seldom in this lane or area. 90 percent use our sidewalks instead. Be very careful the sidewalks are areas of real danger now. Do a extra Mitzvah, be considerate of your fellow Jew today!
Nesha
Should parents be so immature and uncaring as to buy these scooters for their kids?!
Also they should not be raffle prizes!
I once screamed at my friend’s son, a young married guy who almost killed me by doing a u turn into the service road on a scooter.
Remember, there are no signals on scooters. They arent regulated.
Can we regulate ourselves with love of Israel and humanity, please?