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People keep bringing up this problem because it's still a problem. If it's so easy to solve, why is it not solved?

Cities should simply impound any scooter not properly parked and charge $200 to get it back. Since solving the parking problem is so easy, this will push Bird/Lime into finally solving it.




It's not easy to solve because people go ballistic if you suggest removing even a single parking space. See for example the 30+ year struggle to develop bus rapid transit on Geary in SF [0], or the effort Bay Area Bikeshare has to go through to get each and every dock approved by the city [1].

Fundamentally the problem is that car-owners currently receive an enormous subsidy in the form of cheap or free street parking and they jealously guard that privilege, even in supposedly progressive cities like San Francisco.

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geary_Bus_Rapid_Transit [1] https://www.thebaycitybeacon.com/politics/dude-where-s-my-bi...


I think the other responses summarize the problem quite accurately. In fact, I alluded to it when I mentioned the littering of cars.

People who park cars believe in an inherent first claim to all roadside space above other users and they are extremely aggressive in their resistance to even the slightest loss.


I think you are being a little unfair to say ALL car parkers feel they own all space next to roads. I am sure some do, but I am a car driver who is happy to give up some space for other forms of transportation. I think there is a happy balance to be found.


You are totally right to say this, but local government is the rule of the vocal NIMBY that actually shows up to council meetings, and makes headaches for government officials not working to their beck and call. Local government exists to appease these ignorant few because no one else votes in the elections.


"local government is the rule of the vocal NIMBY that actually shows up to council meetings, and makes headaches for government officials not working to their beck and call. "

Would you care to list any city and meeting date in which you have observed this? I'd like to pull the tape and see.


Because people on the whole are incredibly resistant to even a tiny loss in street parking. Swapping out a carpark for a parklet that incorporates scooter parking can generate uproar. And action would need to come from the city/council side.

Whenever there is talk of changes to street parking, businesses are outraged at the removal of convenience for their customers. (In most cases, I think they're actually upset at the loss of convenience for their own parking.)


> Cities should simply impound any scooter not properly parked and charge $200 to get it back. Since solving the parking problem is so easy, this will push Bird/Lime into finally solving it.

That's true, but then said cities would lose the prestige of being a part of Silicon Valley innovation.




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