My rant is really ON base but it reflects a demographic very different from the one in HN and will get downvoted as always when something goes against a narrative. It's very easy to parrot the typical points.
> European countries are in aggregate extremely pro bike/pedestrian
Lol. This is just an ignorant talking point from someone who compares everything to the US. It's like saying healthcare is good (and generalizing as if every country in Europe belonged to a monolith) just because healthcare in the US sucks.
The reality is that having options like these empowers people who don't belong to the tier that owns cars and has sheds or places to store their e-vehicles.
In many cities, these non car options keep getting worse and more expensive and everything seems geared to those who have more money and privilege and people just have to 'take it'.
But hell, let's call it a rant, simplify the issue and outright ban stuff so that people who don't benefit from something can feel more comfortable.
With that logic, Let's ban motorcycles. I don't like their noise and don't have one. They're definitely unsafe and cause accidents. Oh, but we're not going to that.
So there's bad etiquette around scooter placement and you ban it. The same thing can happen with free parking e-bikes. Why can't you find a solution that doesn't ban e-scooters?
You just admitted use them "on occasion" so they're not really useful to you, so you're fine with removing them from others that actually might take advantage.
It's the thing I keep pointing out. People from certain positions screwing over others because they're inconvenienced instead of requesting the gov to do better if they want better order or something.
It's all rather classist but it happens with everything.
Lesson for people: have more money, have cars, live in suburbs, have spaces where you can store your vehicles. Or get screwed by decreasing quality of public transport.