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Lime and Bird are growing rapidly

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Re: Lime and Bird are growing rapidly

#11

Post by albertgoeswoof »

umvi wrote: post #3

Remind me again why they are allowed to litter all the public sidewalks and street corners with their scooters? Regulation hasn't caught up yet?

Why are cars allowed to litter the public roads and park all over the place, taking up a massive amount of space with mostly empty seats and driven around less than 10% of the time?

Re: Lime and Bird are growing rapidly

#12

Post by whymsicalburito »

umvi wrote: post #3

Remind me again why they are allowed to litter all the public sidewalks and street corners with their scooters? Regulation hasn't caught up yet?

They covered my city with them recently and I'm yet to see anyone use them for actual transportation. I tried Bird out over the Thanksgiving holiday with my parents for fun. The app was a bit complicated but overall were pretty fun. Riding the scooter felt a bit dangerous and I wouldn't be able to bring anything back from a store on a scooter, so I'm not sure when I would use one. Also you can't ride them at night, so they're in no way an uber replacement. Also my city is meeting tomorrow to discuss banning them. The writing seems to be on the wall for all these scooter startups. If anyone knows a good vehicle for shorting these companies, let me know ;)

Re: Lime and Bird are growing rapidly

#13

Post by sdinsn »

albertgoeswoof wrote: post #11
umvi wrote: post #3

Remind me again why they are allowed to litter all the public sidewalks and street corners with their scooters? Regulation hasn't caught up yet?

Why are cars allowed to litter the public roads and park all over the place, taking up a massive amount of space with mostly empty seats and driven around less than 10% of the time?

It's not littering since local statues have rules about parking. FYI, in some areas, parking is illegal, and in most areas leaving your car in a spot for too long will allow the city to tow it.

Since the majority of places don't have statues for scooters, the default actually is littering, it's no different than dumping anything else on the sidewalk.

Re: Lime and Bird are growing rapidly

#14

Post by smallgovt »

My guess is that Lime and Bird's latest investors don't actually believe in these insane valuations. Instead, they see these companies as a safe place to park their money due to the limited downside provided by liquid preference terms.

Re: Lime and Bird are growing rapidly

#15

Post by sdinsn »

marcell wrote: post #9
umvi wrote: post #3

Remind me again why they are allowed to litter all the public sidewalks and street corners with their scooters? Regulation hasn't caught up yet?

Because people derive value from the service. It's faster than walking, more convenient than an Uber, and doesn't require a car. Let's leave the "get off my lawn" comments off HN.

It's not a "get off my lawn" comment. Regulations about these scooters don't exist in the large majority of places- meaning the default local regulations about illegal dumping apply. Whether people derive value from it or not is not important to local laws.

These scooter companies are operating in a grey area; that's a fact. Please don't quickly dismiss discussion about this issue, especially in such an ignorant manner.

Re: Lime and Bird are growing rapidly

#16

Post by nihonde »

smallgovt wrote: post #14

My guess is that Lime and Bird's latest investors don't actually believe in these insane valuations. Instead, they see these companies as a safe place to park their money due to the limited downside provided by liquid preference terms.

Curious: What kind of preference is normal at this stage?

Re: Lime and Bird are growing rapidly

#17

Post by alasdair_ »

albertgoeswoof wrote: post #11
umvi wrote: post #3

Remind me again why they are allowed to litter all the public sidewalks and street corners with their scooters? Regulation hasn't caught up yet?

Why are cars allowed to litter the public roads and park all over the place, taking up a massive amount of space with mostly empty seats and driven around less than 10% of the time?

>Why are cars allowed to litter the public roads and park all over the place, taking up a massive amount of space with mostly empty seats and driven around less than 10% of the time?

Because car owners pay extra in taxes, specifically to cover the additional costs to society.

Re: Lime and Bird are growing rapidly

#19

Post by gibolt »

sdinsn wrote: post #13
albertgoeswoof wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why are cars allowed to litter the public roads and park all over the place, taking up a massive amount of space with mostly empty seats and driven around less than 10% of the time?

It's not littering since local statues have rules about parking. FYI, in some areas, parking is illegal, and in most areas leaving your car in a spot for too long will allow the city to tow it. Since the majority of places don't have statues for scooters, the default actually is littering, it's no different than dumping anything else on the sidewalk.

Scooters are definitively vehicles. What would governments do if people just started parking bikes and scooters in free full-size car parking spaces :)

Re: Lime and Bird are growing rapidly

#20

Post by timack »

marcell wrote: post #9
umvi wrote: post #3

Remind me again why they are allowed to litter all the public sidewalks and street corners with their scooters? Regulation hasn't caught up yet?

Because people derive value from the service. It's faster than walking, more convenient than an Uber, and doesn't require a car. Let's leave the "get off my lawn" comments off HN.

This is hardly a'get off my lawn' comment. Because 'some' people 'derive value' doesn't mean they should be free of regulation.
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