Seattle's Scooter Safety Problem

You may be among the majority of people in Seattle who have never ridden one of the thousands of stand-up rental e-scooters, mostly Lime green, licensed and permitted by the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT). Those who do ride them are everywhere, zooming down sidewalks, weaving between cars on the streets. And maybe you’ve wondered, “Aren’t those e-scooter riders risking injuries?”

Then you might also have asked: “Does SDOT actually know the injury risks to its e- scooter riders?” And finally: “If SDOT does know, are they telling anybody?”

The alarming answers are: Yes, those SDOT e-scooters are dangerous for riders. Yes, SDOT knows how bad the injury risk is and has known for more than three years. And no, SDOT is not telling us what they know.

That adds up to a very bad look for SDOT. This agency tirelessly proclaims that safety is its core value. Its cherished Vision Zero safety program is anchored in the mantra that every fatality and serious injury on Seattle’s streets and sidewalks is unacceptable. Or so they say.

https://www.postalley.org/2025/05/09/seattles-scooter-safety-problem/