SRU’s campus has several steep hills, and many students navigate it via electric scooter. Students online reported an uptick in the usage of these vehicles, though no specific numbers were provided.
The Rocket asked for specific opinions regarding the topic.
“Hate [electric scooters], someone’s eventually going to get run over. It’s irresponsible and unnecessary,” an SRU student wrote.
One SRU junior said she feels that electric scooters are a “huge risk.”
“The scooters themselves are silent and very fast. Plus, it’s not that big of a campus. Unless you have a medical reason…just walk,” she said.
Other students feel it is not the scooters, but their riders who are to blame.
“They are fine,” a student said. “It’s the people who operate them that [can’t] control them properly.”
Someone else agreed, stating, “The riders are usually inconsiderate to other pedestrians and often swerve close to others on sidewalks, making it difficult for other students to safely walk. I always feel like they are about to bulldoze me down.”
Another student vouched for his use of the vehicle.
“I get the hate, but I use one because my car broke down and I’m saving up for a new one,” he said.
While unpopular online, traditional powered scooters with handlebars are not prohibited on campus. However, there are some restrictions.
“Once they’re on the roadways, the scooter is subject to typical laws for vehicles on the road,” director of student conduct, Scott Irlbacher, said. “Electric scooters of any kind can’t be used indoors.”
There are also restrictions on hoverboards or scooters that “require the rider to balance their weight and have a greater risk of injury,” according to Irlbacher.
Issues regarding the improper use of electric vehicles are initially dealt with through verbal warning and correction.
“Repeat violations or more serious violations could result in Disciplinary Probation, up through having the student remove the scooter from campus,” Irlbacher said.
SRU is currently in the process of consolidating and updating vehicle policies for clarity.
