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South Park woman's anti-scooter crusade
Saint Jerry - I agree, the plaza belongs to everyone. When the dockless companies took over they prevented the neighborhood from using the space. We could not get our trash emptied. Delivery trucks for the residents and merchants were blocked and inconvenienced. The bus stop has been blocked repeatedly. The merchants that rent the space along the plaza had private property blocked. Elderly and disabled folks were injured and put at further risk. I didn't complain - I did something to protect my neighborhood and neighbors. I did not try and ban any vehicles - I only requested they stay off the plaza. I never damaged a vehicle, nor did I advocate any action other than moving them across the street where they did not have such a negative impact. My blind neighbor/friend has always been fiercely independent. After he fell he became apprehensive - where would the next obstacle be? My friend has walked the same routes for decades - to the bus stop, the barber, the cafe, and the market. Now there were dangerous obstacles. Should we wait until he is severely injured? Another fall could easily be fatal. I didn't complain - I took what action I could to help protect my friends and neighbors. I did so with the permission, assistance, and backing of the property owner, merchants, residents, employees, and many customers. You might like to run me down on the sidewalk, but please - respect the community and don't ride on the sidewalk. There are kids darting out of the stores and lots of animals on their way to the dog park. Chances are you would injure someone other than me. All I asked for was the vehicles off the sidewalk (where they are illegal and don't belong) and the vehicles not parked where there were a danger and nuisance. Would you rather see Grape Street Plaza with 1/2 dozen vehicles from each of the companies, or the space being enjoyed by the neighborhood? Stop at the Big Kitchen and listen to the music on the weekend (since there are places to put tables and chairs instead of bikes and scooters). Watch the kids dance to the music and friends enjoying the neighborhood.— February 8, 2019 6:34 p.m.
South Park woman's anti-scooter crusade
Steve - thank you for the referral to the scooter removal company. We signed up with them a few weeks ago, and now I am have been relieved of my scooter duties (thankfully). I am not against the scooters or shared bikes. I believe they do not belong on the sidewalks, and I specifically objected to them commandeering the plaza. I believe it is inappropriate for someone to set up a business (like rental scooters) in front of a business paying rent. The merchants around the plaza are part of the community, and contribute to the community. From the first day the LimeBikes landed I tried to work with each of the firms. I have a complete history of emails and discussions. I received empty promises and was misled over and over again. The companies can blame the users, but the users are their customers, so ultimately (in my mind) it is the problem of the dockless companies. I never tried to get them banned, only placed so that the neighborhood was not needlessly disrupted. We need our dumpsters emptied, the merchants need their deliveries, and pedestrians and customers need free access. We especially need to watch out for the most vulnerable folks - including the blind, elderly, kids, and all the dogs on the way to the dog park. So the stagers know enough to stay off the plaza - and not one of them respected that regularly until after we signed up with scooter removal. Also, the vehicles all have GPS. If a user attempts to end a ride in an inappropriate area, don't let them turn it off! Maybe it is more work for the programmers, but it is the company collecting your data and your money, so it is their problem to make it work. Urban space and public space is for the public — it's for us all to use. It's not for a private company to make profit off. Dockless firms are parasites on the urban space.— February 8, 2019 3:01 p.m.