TULSA, OK (KJRH) — Since electric scooters hit the road in late October, more than 30,000 people have signed up to take a ride. City officials say most of them are younger and might not be able to afford an accident.
Even though the weather in February isn't great, when things warm up more people will be out and about, which city officials say can mean more people prone to accidents. The city says there only have been a few accidents on electric scooters so far, but the city expects even more riders when the weather begins to get better.
"I just want to make sure as ridership increases, as more people get comfortable using them, as we have more summertime activities, we just make sure everyone's aware of what's going on," District 7 City Councilor Lori Decter Wright said.
Wright says most riders are younger and might not have the health insurance coverage they'd need after an accident, which she says is something for riders of any age to consider before they hit the road.
"I think the data supports that a lot of young people are under-insured, if they are insured, or they might have a high deductible plan," Wright said. "So it stands to reason if your user group is in that younger demographic, that in all likelihood if there is a physical injury it could cause a financial impact for them."
When the weather does warm up, Wright says the city will be keeping a close eye on how many people are using these scooters and if there is any increase in accidents.
As part of its "Respect the Ride" campaign, the scooter company Lime is offering 250,000 free helmets around the world. To get one, you have to pledge to always wear it while on their scooters and obey all traffic and speed limits.
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