Give scooters a chance

Your editorial about the arrival of Bird scooters in Baltimore is way off base (“Bird scooters — Baltimore's latest invasive species,” July 24). It strikes an over-the-top tone much like The Music Man’s lead character, “Professor” Hill, warning the unsophisticated people of River City, Iowa about the evils of pool: “Ya got trouble, my friend, right here in River City … Trouble with a capital ‘T’ which rhymes with ‘P’ and that stands for pool.” Your editorial might just as well warn about “Trouble with a capital ‘T’ which rhymes with ‘E’ and that stands for electric scooters.”

The scooters are not an “invasive species” as you opine nor should they be described as an “onslaught” of a “foreign invasion designed by teens.” Scooters are not “dumped in large numbers” on our Baltimore sidewalks. Nor is it “deeply troubling” to leave scooters in public places. Deeply troubling? Really?

These electric scooters are a green form of transportation enjoyed by all age groups (including the undersigned who recently enrolled in Medicare). The picture accompanying your editorial shows a millennial-age commuter riding peacefully around the Inner Harbor. It is commendable that he is not riding in an automobile, which helps relieve downtown traffic congestion. It is quite surprising that The Sun wants to put the kibosh on a such a eco-friendly form of transportation. Especially one embraced by millennials whom the city needs to attract and retain.

Scooter riders politely share the sidewalks with pedestrians. To my knowledge there have been no serious injuries reported in Baltimore either among pedestrians or scooter riders. Scooters are not, as you call them, “litter” to be “rounded up.”

Here is an idea for city officials: do nothing. The pedestrians and scooter riders are doing just fine. The scooters are a welcome addition to our fair city. Let’s embrace them.You mention that it’s up to city residents to decide about ride-share scooters. Well, it would appear that we have already decided — quite a few of us rent scooters and use them to commute back and forth to work.

Here’s the best part about scooters: they're fun! Don’t take away our scooters!