A Dollar to Start

Droves of Electric Scooters Zip Around San Francisco

If you frequent the streets of San Francisco, I’m sure you’ve seen them. You’ve questioned why they’re scattered aimlessly and left seemingly abandoned. Of course, I’m referring to the myriad of electric scooters. 

Three startups released hundreds of scooters on the streets seemingly overnight. Brands you may see include: Bird, Lime and Spin. And at a dollar to start, it has become an attractive method of transportation. They also happen to travel upwards of fifteen-miles-per-hour, which is approximately three times faster than traveling by foot. 

Personally, I wouldn’t use one of the scooters floating around. I get the appeal, but it seems like more of a novelty. Walking suits me.  

Stanton Slovum and his friend, Justin Dobson, zip across Market Street and wait for a stop light at O’Farrell and Grant Avenue. It’s a particularly sunny day in the City. 

“Well, the best part is you can just leave them… you can just park them wherever you want, and you can just leave them there. And you can just find them on the app,” explains Stanton. 

“I mean, it’s super fun. It’s super quick to get around the City. It’s actually pretty cheap and reasonably priced. It’s a dollar to start. And then, what, about fifteen cents a minute or something like that,” adds Justin. 

I continue to march up O’Farrell at a brisk pace. People from all walks of life catch my gaze. I witness everything from business-oriented individuals, presumably on their way home, to a homeless guy towing a deactivated scooter. But even he seems to be enjoying himself.

“You know… it’s easier than getting on the bus. You get there a lot quicker than getting on the bus. They’re pretty handy ‘cause they can go basically anywhere. You can just grab one… and go where you need to go,” asserts Millar King. 

He drops his scooter and carries on with his day. 

(Photos by Anthony Sutherlin)