Topic: E Scooters

The history of "flying cars" is explored, from the Zapata air scooter to the decades-long efforts of Paul Moller and his "Skycar." The hosts discuss the limitations of EVTOL technology, such as short battery life and licensing requirements. They conclude that most of these inventions are recycled publicity stunts that fail to provide a practical alternative to traditional aircraft or automobiles.

California Governor Jerry Brown signed Assembly Bill 2989, which regulates motorized scooters. The new law allows scooters on highways with speed limits up to 35 mph and removes the helmet requirement for riders over 18. The hosts criticize the "braking requirement" in the bill, which only mandates that the brake can cause a wheel to skid on dry pavement.

A listener from Austin observes that many tech workers moving from California view themselves as "long-term tourists" rather than invested residents. This lack of community investment is blamed for the proliferation of "litter" like dockless scooters and a general lack of respect for local norms. The hosts compare the influx to the aftermath of a messy music festival.

Protesters in Paris reportedly broke into BlackRock's headquarters as part of ongoing demonstrations against raising the retirement age. Simultaneously, Paris residents voted in a referendum to ban rental electric scooters from the city streets starting in August. The hosts praise the French for "standing up to things" and removing what they characterize as a significant traffic hazard and urban nuisance.

Taylor Swift's public dispute with Scooter Braun over her master recordings is analyzed as a standard business conflict rather than "toxic male privilege." The hosts explain the mechanics of music publishing and how artists often trade rights for early career investment. They argue Swift's complaints are disingenuous given her family's background in investment banking.

Taylor Swift is engaged in a public dispute with record executives Scooter Braun and Scott Borchetta over the rights to her master recordings. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has voiced support for Swift, criticizing private equity practices. The conflict specifically involves Swift's ability to perform her old songs in a televised special and a Netflix documentary, highlighting complex music publishing and "sync" rights.

Hurricane Dorian, a Category 4 storm, is projected to hit the Bahamas with 150 mph winds before potentially skirting the Florida coast. The hosts mock the inaccuracy of "spaghetti" weather models and joke about a "Scooter-nado" occurring if the storm hits Austin, Texas, and lofts thousands of dockless electric scooters into the air.

In San Diego, entrepreneurs have started a business impounding illegally parked electric scooters from companies like Bird and Lime. By treating the abandoned scooters as trespassing property on private hotel or business lots, they charge the companies $30 pickup fees and daily storage rates. The scheme is described as a "genius" application of property rights against the "plague" of dockless scooters.

Eight new lawsuits have been filed in Austin against e-scooter companies Bird, Uber, and Lime, alleging negligence and faulty equipment. One rider was reportedly run over by a bus after being thrown from a scooter. Separately, a host recounts a hostile encounter with a panhandler in downtown Austin who threatened his family after being denied money.

Austin continues to expand its electric scooter market with the approval of companies like Skip and Razor. City Council members are noted for using tech-industry jargon like "geofencing" and "market bearing" while addressing public concerns about scooter safety and usage.

The Mayor of Nashville is threatening to ban electric scooters following 11 reported deaths and numerous accidents. Concerns include the danger to pedestrians, particularly the blind and deaf, as scooters are often left blocking sidewalks. The hosts discuss the legal challenges from ADA groups and the specific risks in cities like Austin with large deaf populations.

Uber announces a new policy to deactivate riders with low ratings, which the hosts liken to a social credit score. In Austin, a host's sister was fined $20 by an e-scooter company for failing to park a Bird bike in a designated upright position.

The introduction of e-scooters in Hoboken and Austin has led to safety concerns and traffic violations. Predictions suggest that portions of downtown Austin may eventually be closed to cars in favor of electric "dockless mobility" options like scooters and monowheels.

A tragic report from Southern California describes the death of Rosa Hernandez, who was brutally attacked by a stranger using a Bird electric scooter as a bludgeoning weapon. The hosts express shock at the use of a ride-share scooter as a deadly instrument.

The Texas Legislature has passed a bill regulating motorized scooters, including a minimum age of 16 and a ban on sidewalk riding. The hosts predict that moving scooters into street traffic will lead to an increase in accidents and fatalities, noting that Austin has already seen high numbers of scooter-related head injuries.

A woman in Bakersfield, California, was charged with felony animal abuse after Ring doorbell footage showed her dragging a dog behind an electric Bird scooter. The suspect, a contracted psychologist at a state prison, had her contract terminated after the video went viral. The incident highlights the growing role of private home surveillance networks, such as Amazon's Ring, in providing evidence for criminal investigations.

The "app life" trend is expanding with IKEA announcing a furniture rental service and the rise of peer-to-peer car rentals. A recent accident in Austin involving a rented electric scooter and a car rented through an app highlights the complex insurance and liability issues of the gig economy. The segment critiques the lack of safety regulations, such as helmet requirements, for scooter users.

The rapid deployment of e-scooters by Silicon Valley companies is criticized as a disruptive business model that ignores local regulations. An anecdote describes the frustration of navigating obstructed sidewalks in Austin, leading to an act of "aggressive" removal of a scooter from a walking path. The city is reportedly considering a cap of 17,000 scooters and bikes in the downtown area.

Listeners from Chicago and Columbus, Ohio, shared stories about the hazards of dockless "Bird" scooters for pedestrians and the blind. The segment includes a "Value for Value" donation read, acknowledging contributors like Lisa from Bensonville and Scott in Columbus. "Jobs Karma" is distributed to government workers affected by the ongoing federal shutdown.

Ojo Electric announces the launch of a sit-down scooter service in Austin, adding to the city's existing fleet of thousands of dockless bikes and scooters. The hosts describe the vehicles as "Vespa-esque" but limited to 20 miles per hour. They criticize the increasing clutter on city sidewalks caused by these mobility solutions.