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<br />5 <br /> <br />Figure 3: Survey Respondent’s Attitude Toward an E-Scooter Pilot in Eugene <br /> <br /> <br />Safety/Mobility and Access <br />Sidewalk riding and improper parking practices (scooters being left anywhere and everywhere) are cited <br />as major safety issues by persons who either (a) do not support the pilot, or (b) are interested in the <br />pilot but have concerns. While sidewalk riding and improper parking practices have safety implications <br />for all members of the community, they pose a special safety issue for seniors and people with <br />disabilities. One respondent commented that when scooters appear out of nowhere, especially in <br />spaces they should not be, it causes psychological stress in addition to physical stress. <br />Poor helmet use, self-injury, injuries inflicted by scooter-riders onto others, and intoxicated riding are <br />other commonly cited issues. <br />Sustainability <br />Several survey takers questioned the public perception of scooters, stating that scooters are commonly <br />viewed as toys and not serious transportation options. Other respondents cited the mental health and <br />drug-dependency issues faced by some members of Eugene’s unhoused population. Still others criticized <br />the lifespan of scooters. These issues were cited as reasons for concern about potential theft and <br />vandalism of scooters, or as potential motivations for scooters to be thrown into the Willamette River. <br />Other commonly cited sustainability concerns include the sourcing of components used in e-scooter <br />batteries, the use of electricity to charge scooters, plastic use in scooter bodies, and that scooters might <br />reduce walking and biking trips instead of driving trips. <br /> <br />February 26, 2020, Work Session – Item 2