Pedestrians, E-Scooters Are Clashing In the Struggle For Sidewalk Space

Slashdot reader mileshigh writes: Activists in California have filed a federal lawsuit alleging that parked scooters littering sidewalks interfere with sidewalk accessibility for people with multiple types of disabilities and violate the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Many people have been wondering when this would happen since California courts are notoriously friendly to ADA complaints and lawsuits. Realistically, this type of lawsuit may well be the Achilles' heel of scooter-sharing services, especially if they're granted class-action status as this lawsuit is requesting. Will likely be the first of many. 'Without full use of the sidewalk and curb ramps at street intersections, persons with mobility and/or visual impairments have significant barriers in crossing from a pedestrian walkway to a street,' the suit alleges. 'This is exacerbated when the sidewalk itself is full of obstructions and no longer able to be fully and freely used by people with disabilities.'

The suit accuses the city of not maintaining streets and sidewalks in a way that doesn't discriminate against the disabled and allowing 'dockless scooters used primarily for recreational purposes to proliferate unchecked throughout San Diego and to block safe and equal access for people with disabilities.' The lawsuit also alleges the scooter companies have been allowed to 'appropriate the public commons for their own profit.'

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