As you’ve walked around campus, you may have seen the SPIN eScooters; perhaps you’ve even used them. When I’m walking through campus, I see other students whizzing through crowds and swerving to avoid people. This led me to question: Are these electric scooters causing more chaos than the convenience they are worth?

Safety risks

Some riders on campus speed through crowds of students as they try to reach their destination. I have seen countless students jump out of the way to avoid being hit because there was no clear path for the rider at such a fast speed. With steep paths around campus, such as near the Student Center and Kent Hall, riders can reach faster speeds — risking the ability to control the eScooter and avoid potential injuries.

SPIN scooters do not require any sort of safety precautions — such as helmets — which puts the rider at risk. The SPIN section of the Kent State Recreation and Wellness Services site recommends wearing a helmet and even offers a free helmet after completing a safety quiz. Still, from my own experience, I have not seen a single student wearing a helmet while riding an eScooter on campus.

In August 2022, Colin Pho, a Kent State student, was killed in a hit-and-run accident while riding an electric scooter near Dix Stadium. While this is an extreme circumstance, it just proves the lethality of these motorized devices.

Parking issues

A few semesters ago, I hopped on a SPIN scooter to try one out. While I enjoyed the casual ride, one issue I found was parking. On the SPIN app, they highlight designated parking areas where you can park and end your ride. The issue I ran into was going to the designated spot only to check the app and find that I couldn’t park the scooter in that area anymore.

The shifting parking areas made it difficult to end my ride, subsequently costing me more money and requiring me to park farther away from my destination. When you’re able to park the scooters easily, I can see how it can provide a more efficient trip from point A to point B. Unfortunately, parking the scooters seems to be more difficult than not.

Final thoughts

So, are the SPIN eScooters convenient or chaotic? If you ask me, my answer is simple: They’re chaotic. The risk of injury and parking issues is not worth the potential convenience.

My final words of advice: Drive safely and be aware of your surroundings!

Kaelin Azbell is a columnist. Contact her at [email protected].