Disability advocates raise alarm over e-scooters

Advocates are calling on the city of Toronto to maintain and enforce the e-scooter ban, arguing it poses a danger to disabled and senior residents. Michelle Mackey reports on why the issue is being raised now.

[@joetran8798]

How is this different from bicycles? Toronto is paralyzed because of all the special interest groups. At one point, someone needs to take a stand. Toronto is already a laughing stock. This just adds to it.

[@Wolverine1987]

"Special" interest groups are prioritized over the general population.

[@Georgeqaws]

​@Wolverine1987 that's the problem.

[@Rod83]

And what about electric car you cant see them and heard them as well🤷🏾‍♂️

[@humanonearth1]

I think they are required to emit/produce sound, but I'd agree it's not very loud.

[@classicdufferin8739]

Thats why open pipes for normal cars and sportbikes are encouraged to save lives. EVs are not safe for pedestrians.

[@johncasey5594]

People should put playing cards in their car tire spokes, like kids used to do with their bikes in the 70's and 80's. LOL.

[@Skyfoogle]

this is why car culture is so prevalent in north america. it's either drive, walk, or take awful transit. other modes of transportation that are ubiquitous around the world are frowned upon here.

[@elizabethmonsell1847]

Go move to Vietnam or Thailand if you need your e bike to get around. We have laws here and processes yes that are different from third and second world Countries.

[@Skyfoogle]

​@@elizabethmonsell1847 france? sweden? italy? japan? you need to travel more if you think these are only common in the third world.

[@Ont785]

Is this the same city that put up barriers so disabilities couldn’t get through to sidewalks because of the bike lanes?

[@gregthompson4068]

What about e-bikes especially the over size ones that look like motor bikes. You know how many times I see them flying down a bike lane or sidewalk full speed those weaving in and around pedestrains these are the ones that should be banned or at least licenced and insured. I drive, bike and scooter and I do responsible. Just inforce speed limits on e-bikes and scooters. Enforce the people using them to be responsible I do not think banning scooters is the way. Honestly a lot of people with electric wheelchairs do not follow common sense when operating as well. Needs to be fair for everyone and everyone should be held accountability if not using correctly. And lets stop being a tart if you don't like something this is a huge city and we need to accept people choices and work together and respect one another.

[@Insomniac_tv]

I own a motorcycle e bike and honestly I agree with the bike paths those who use them make everyone who rides electric motorcycle style ebike look bad I don’t ride on the paths because I don’t wanna endanger cyclists. But the 32kph limit is to slow for regular traffic hens why people remove the governor and take the main streets. My bike can top 70kph but I usually keep it within 50kph to keep up with traffic. Also license and registration should be a thing but just for legality reasons and theft but insurance should be a option due to that fact most people who ride electric motorcycles can’t afford insurance and rather ride something that’s affordable compared to a car or real motorcycle. If we crash we pay full price that’s the reality of it. But forcing low income people to pay hefty insurance rates will just make people take unreliable transit or other alternatives like e scooters.

[@jayperez3431]

FACTS

[@humanonearth1]

Maybe if public transit wasn't so abysmal in TO.

[@HyperCarnivore666]

🇷🇺❤️🎖️

[@humanonearth1]

7 years jail in rus for anti-war poem, not so good@@HyperCarnivore666

[@nonfatalexec]

My blind friend Matt Murdock who works as a lawyer said that the issue with e-scooters being silent is a problem that bicycles don't have. He once dodged 2 bicycles coming from opposite directions at him at the same time because he could hear the gears.

[@stunnin420ify]

It’s a good thing we aren’t all blind lawyers then

[@TheRealCartman1]

The issue here is same one as cyclists, they don't have insurance, they don't bother to follow basic rules of the road and when they cause an accident they don't bother to stop.

[@alisonfraser8231]

Let’s ban cars and bicycles as well! Ban wagons and the shoe leather express! Or perhaps people could grow some manners and learn to drive and store their vehicles properly.

[@BC_Geoff]

E-scooters and e-bikes are an absolute menace driven by inexperienced, lazy people.

[@TheBohemianStyle]

Scooters go so fast that people who can’t move out of the way fast enough. Succinctly, why do I have to move out of their way? Can’t they stop and slow down?

[@user-ks1ze4io6b]

no why dont you gtf out of the way? Why you gotta be so slow like a deer?

[@Ont785]

Who are these people? I swear the media find three people and turned it into a story. It’s cheap efficient transportation… Move on

[@theepimountainbiker6551]

Sure......what about the people who use them because they cant walk 🤔 grocery store too far, electric cart or bus too much, a rented kick scooter is a perfect option. Cant hear them coming? Dude you cant hear me walking beside you at least those scooters motor make a noise.

[@lyshm1]

we must do something about delivery drivers, especially Fantuan (those in light blue uniforms driving motorized scooters with no license plate delivering Asian food). Those people are some of the most dangerous and rule-breaking drivers you will ever find. They drive on sidewalks, swerving in and out of traffic, parking in the middle of the road, and even disregard traffic light signals! It will not be long before someone gets hurt by Fantuan delivery drivers and they have taken over downtown Toronto!

[@mcxcdx]

You blame scooters. Ban Bikes, Ban Skateboards, Ban Walking (You can't hear a person walk).

[@gary094]

Stop riding on the sidewalk. That includes regular cyclists.

[@althunder4269]

The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.

[@InGODweTrust007]

​​@@CanadaC116 well the lockdown and crashing the economy from the jaber jaber Klaus was about the needs of the few over the needs of the many.🤷‍♂️

[@JJUnohu]

The world can't accommodate everyone all the time

[@YasserUM]

1. Tripping Hazard - How is this only applicable to e-scooters? You can trip over regular scooters, strollers, shopping strollers.

[@spootnik00]

What about skateboards, rollerblades, cyclist they are all a danger you cant tell if they are coming behind either if you are blind and deaf duh!

[@zombieowen]

I don't see why they couldn't go in bike lanes. But there's problems with so much more on the sidewalks, bikes, e-bikes, and various electric wheel board things.

[@troyzieman7177]

How about we ban winter? That certainly would help . How about we ban restaurant patios? We could ban leashed pets on the streets . If you are blind and you live in a city you are going ro have to navigate uncounted unexpected hazards . No amount of bans will solve your problem . If you are interpreting my comments as uncaring towards the disabled. You are missing the point . We cant alter all of society to accomidate every potential need of every special interest group.

[@frederickboileau9283]

yet we are

[@troyzieman7177]

@frederickboileau9283 yes that's true , it's unaffordable and unmanageable

[@Why-I-Oughta]

The government may as well ban all vehicles. Surely the riders are the ones who put people in danger.

[@thecollegiate100]

They should bane electric scooters this is not safe

[@mregypt]

MY E SCOOTER HAS BEEN LIFE CHANGING FOR ME. HOW ABOUT I JUMP BACK IN MY CAR AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE GRID LOCK. SOUND BETTER?

[@CoasterRob]

They raise very valid points but thats not a reason to ban them outright and ruin everyones enjoyment but not only they reduce congestion and emissions but they can help people with visible and invisible disabilities apart from being a quicker way of getting about

[@klausr3581]

what about electric wheelchairs? Disability advocate wants those banned too

[@user-xy1eg3tj8h]

Should outlaw bikes walking and squirrels too. They can't hear those also. 🙄

[@julianpineros5233]

Right… let’s ban scooters but let’s keep sidewalks full of snow and Ice because those CERTAINLY aren’t accessibility barriers.

[@wysiwygcanada]

Sounds like a good way to end up with 100's of single user mobility scooters instead.

[@Insomniac_tv]

Fix your dam mic

[@Francois_Dupont]

if you are blind dont complain about not seeing stuff in from of you. its your own responsability.

[@ratimes8k]

And this is the reason why we can’t have nice things….because people like David…

[@fadnama]

I have a disability that prevents me from riding a bicycle, but that would greatly benefit from using an e-scooter as it would improve my freedom to do my own errands. My only barrier right now is the cost of purchasing the scooter.

[@JonJonChannel]

Get a used one

[@stunnin420ify]

I have a disability that would make it difficult if not impossible for me to pass for a car license. Getting a boat license was hard enough. So I have e-bikes as my main transportation…

[@Wolverine1987]

What happened to living in a free country? Might as well ban bikes next with their terrible logic.

[@enriquemoran9094]

Great. Now try to enforce that and good luck!

[@C.O.920]

Let's also ban "mobilty scooters"...

[@theepimountainbiker6551]

Right! I know some people these things ARE mobility scooters, same with bikes electric or not.

[@MrWallace484]

Helmets need to be mandatory

[@theepimountainbiker6551]

Ok karen

[@user-ij4gr9sc3h]

Well just like driving a car that's how a e-scooter should be taken into consideration, no scooter should be allowed on sidewalk but you can lock it up like a bike why not on the street!? It goin' to get stolen being locked up outside but that's up to the owner of the scooter. There's no other option the TTC is a joke so how are you suppose to get around?????? The city is over populated & crowded. 🤷‍♀️

[@MrBuddy-r8w]

There are so many things wrong with this issue.

[@jct4418]

Someone should explain to this blind guy that he has a disability, that means there is something he is not able to do, it doesn't mean he can ask other people to make sounds constantly just incase he is close.

[@Kylekillamart]

Please. That is nuts. None of these are reasons to have a wide spread ban for the population…

[@user-jm7kc4bm8m]

Ridiculous

[@Michelle1992w]

This issue is not about a scooter, this is an issue on human decency and respect towards each other. I swear everyone in this city is so selfish and always in a rush to get home to watch Netflix that no one cares if they almost hit someone or if they are in someone’s way and putting them at risk. No one is decent enough to park their bikes, e-scooter and even cars in a proper spot so they don’t get in someone’s way.

[@americanhotdog]

0:01 spaced out reporter

[@sacphilip]

With all due respect, escooters help with traffic congestion and long transit wait times. I save 40 mins and $6.6 a day on travel, for almost 8 months in a year, thanks to mine

[@johncasey5594]

We are micromanaging ourselves into paralysis. When everyone's voices are heard, we all loose rights. We don't want cars because they are bad for the environment. Now we don't want bikes and e-scooters because of the blind. What's next? Everyone has to walk wrapped up in bubble wrap with helmets to protect their heads. Then disabled people will chime in, I can't walk, I need scooters. Where does it stop?

[@sunshinenOJ]

Each one of us are just one crash away from becoming 'disabled' -- so if you can't care for vulnerable people genuinely, you can at least look out for your future

[@johncasey5594]

@@sunshinenOJ People need to get their faces out of their cell phones and be aware of their surroundings. People need to stop being so entitled that they believe they have the privilege of traversing traffic without thinking twice and everyone else needs to look out for them. I watch the Toronto rat race as people rush to work in the morning and rush home in the evening to make their trains on time. They, often, without looking, rush out into traffic to make the traffic light count down timer, because god forbid they have to wait a couple minutes for the lights to cycle and perhaps miss their train or bus. At coffee shops I see people in line, the person asks who is next and their face in in their phone holding up the line. Or I see people waiting at elevators, face in phone, the doors open, everyone else gets in, the doors start to close and all of a sudden they wake up and rush the doors. People need to pay attention and be aware of their surroundings. Too many people want the government to take care of them and think it is everyone else's responsibility to ensure their safety.

[@steveswhirld]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣retodds🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@jeanclaudejunior]

You're still very childish and sadistic. Do you want the Christie Pits riots to happen again?