Scooter wars in Los Angeles

By Arthur House

A new turf war is raging on the streets of Los Angeles. Outside Gjusta, an artisanal bakery in a trendy part of Venice, four electric scooters lie on their side, beeping plaintively. They belong to Spin, one of a handful of “micromobility” companies – among them Bird, Lime and Scoot – currently duking it out for control of LA’s sidewalks and bike lanes. Don’t be fooled by their cheerful names: on either side of the stricken vehicles stand suspiciously neat rows of rivals awaiting their next rider. Could it be sabotage? In the scooter wars, anything is possible.

Such companies – most of which are based in San Francisco – have put wheels on the ground in many cities, but LA is the glittering prize. LA has the worst congestion in America, a problem that needs urgently addressing if California is to achieve its ambitious emissions reduction goals by 2030. Its public transport system is widely viewed as unsafe (I was reluctant to believe this until I took the metro and a woman in my carriage had her phone stolen by a man in a studded leather face-mask). Four in ten car journeys in LA are under two miles, often taken by solo drivers. In a flat, reliably sunny city, bike and scooter sharing offers an environmentally friendly, convenient alternative for these “last mile” trips (walk in LA? You must be mad). But is this notoriously car-addicted place prepared for two-wheeled travel?