As the 21st century progresses, new transportation methods are being created, and while they are very easily accessible, they have their side effects.
Around a week ago, I was cruising around the town of Çeşme, a suburb of Izmir, with a Martı e-scooter. I have not seen these gadgets the last time I came here, which was around two years ago. I hopped onto one of these things, and let me tell you this: it was very enjoyable, but it was not quite suited for the narrow paths of the town. Oh, I also twisted my ankle. I almost crashed into an old guy.
Micro mobility devices are on the rise in Europe. E-scooters, e-bikes: they are very easily reachable, convenient, and do the job of transporting people throughout the city. However, they have their downsides: firstly, and most importantly, they can be fatal. Second of all, micro mobility vehicles powered by electricity may not be as eco-friendly as we think.
If you watch the news you have probably heard about e-scooter accidents across European countries. In fact, France was very close to fully ban e-scooters after a Paris resident has died in an e-scooter crash. Micro mobility vehicles such as e-scooters are brand new concepts, as they have only gained popularity in early 2019. European countries still develop regulations on how these vehicles can be controlled. Hopefully, in the near future, intelligent urban planning will create a better environment for e-scooter riders to stroll around the city.
There is also the problem that e-scooters are not as eco-friendly as we think they are. Many studies have proven that while the e-scooters themselves do not emit carbon dioxide when you ride them, the manufacturing of the e-scooters and recharging them at the end of the day commit to the greenhouse effect one way or another. (The Telegraph)
So, are e-scooters as innocent as we think they are? Well, not really. But with improving research and technology, I have high hopes that e-scooters and pretty much every other micro mobility vehicles will be safer to use, both environmentally and physically.
By Batuhan Yeltekin
Comentarios