E-scooters Require Parking, Walking On San Jose State Campus

SAN JOSE, CA -- The popularity of e-scooters as well as electric- skateboards and bicycles is all the buzz in cities on the West Coast -- and the land of innovation is no exception.

But the buzz hasn't remained all fun and games when cities from Seattle to San Diego have shown clashes exist between the drivers of these shared-use vehicles and pedestrians. Some walkers have jumped off sidewalks fearing the risk of getting hit by the electric vehicles, which can travel as fast as 35mph. One rider ran into a McDonald's sign in one California city.

And often times, recklessness results in injuries sustained by the driver as shown by the first-of-its-kind emergency room study recently published in the JAMA Network Open. UCLA researchers found one in three people hurt in electric scooter accidents require treatment in an emergency room.

The researchers reviewed visits of 249 people treated in ERs between Sept. 1, 2017, and Aug. 31, 2018 within two Los Angeles County medical facilities - UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica, and Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. The most frequent injuries from E-scooters were head injuries at 40 percent; fractures at 32 percent; and cuts, sprains or bruises without a fracture at 28 percent, the study found. As many as one-third of patients evaluated called an ambulance. Fifteen people were hospitalized, and two needed treatment in an intensive care unit.

To alleviate liability from such mishaps and tragic circumstances, local governments and other entities have been forced to crack down on the use of these electric vehicles without alienating those who endorse the popular mode of transit.

San Jose State has found a balance between welcoming the vehicles from city streets and keeping them dormant on campus.

The university established on Feb. 20 a designated dismount zone for all electric and motorized scooters, electric- skate boards and bicycles. In accordance with campus and state regulations, the electric vehicles may be used to travel to campus, but they must be left at the established drop off zones located on the campus perimeter.

"San Jose State University takes seriously the well being and safety of all our students, faculty and staff," Vice President of Administration and Finance Charlie Faas told campus users.

Violators will be subject to fines. Vehicles left on campus unattended will be considered abandoned and may be impounded. The SJSU Designated Dismount Zone list the places where the electric vehicles may be parked.