New Jersey’s e-scooter program: Great traveling option? Or a menace to the state?

Elizabeth has become the third city in New Jersey to launch an e-scooter sharing program, behind Hoboken and Asbury Park.

News 12 Staff

Nov 13, 2019, 1:52 AM

Updated 1,642 days ago

Share:

Elizabeth has become the third city in New Jersey to launch an e-scooter sharing program, behind Hoboken and Asbury Park.
Supporters say that the program provides a great way to travel around a town, via electric scooter. They say that this is true in towns that have limited parking and heavy traffic. And help provide an environmentally-cleaner transportation option.
But the program has not been without controversy with reports of accidents, people driving recklessly or even dangerously drunk.
“These scooters are nothing more than a menace. And that's what they've become in only one month of use,” says attorney Thomas DeSeno.
DeSeno has unofficially been dubbed the “scooter-chasing lawyer” after he posted an ad urging people to call him if they have gotten hurt while riding on one of the scooters.
“The response was immediate. I mean, I got four calls from injured people on the first day. The first call came in within a minute of the ad being released,” he says.
There are others who oppose the scooters. A Twitter account named @RudeScooter documents all of the occasions of scooter riders breaking the rules, such as riding on sidewalks, riding doubles or riders under the age of 18.
News 12’s Brian Donohue took one of the scooters out for a spin and said that they were “ridiculously easy” to use. He says that unless the rider was hurt by another driver who is being negligent, the only way to really get hurt on one is operator error.
“Well, you know you can't just rely just on the person to be the best scooter driver,” says DeSeno.
The scooters are available in Asbury Park on a limited basis now that the colder weather has set in. Hoboken officials have recently hired two enforcement officers to crack down on scooter violations.


More from News 12
0:17
Police: Bridgeport man arrested for role in gas station shooting

Police: Bridgeport man arrested for role in gas station shooting

1:23
Rainy Mother’s Day morning in Connecticut, tapers by evening

Rainy Mother’s Day morning in Connecticut, tapers by evening

0:20
Shelton officials: Woman extracted from overturned vehicle

Shelton officials: Woman extracted from overturned vehicle

1:39
Senate bill would limit harmful heavy metals in baby food

Senate bill would limit harmful heavy metals in baby food

0:34
Police: Man accused of kidnapping, assaulting woman in Southbury

Police: Man accused of kidnapping, assaulting woman in Southbury

0:25
Voters in Wilton approve town's budget, funding for HVAC and roof at Middlebrook School

Voters in Wilton approve town's budget, funding for HVAC and roof at Middlebrook School

Is your mom awesome? Connecticut tell us why your Mom Rocks!

Is your mom awesome? Connecticut tell us why your Mom Rocks!

0:59
Sister of teen fatally shot by Bridgeport police officer continues to call for justice 7 years later

Sister of teen fatally shot by Bridgeport police officer continues to call for justice 7 years later

0:23
Stratford FD: 1 injured in apartment fire, dozens displaced

Stratford FD: 1 injured in apartment fire, dozens displaced

1:51
‘Coming together for purpose.’ Mombies Mother's Day 5K raises money for breast cancer research

‘Coming together for purpose.’ Mombies Mother's Day 5K raises money for breast cancer research

0:48
Volunteers and mail carriers work to ‘Stamp Out’ hunger in Connecticut

Volunteers and mail carriers work to ‘Stamp Out’ hunger in Connecticut

0:42
Former Bridgeport mayor Bill Finch announces run for old state senate seat

Former Bridgeport mayor Bill Finch announces run for old state senate seat

2:03
Why do Black women have the highest death rate for most cancers? A massive study in underway

Why do Black women have the highest death rate for most cancers? A massive study in underway

1:23
Light show: Severe solar storm produces spectacular auroras across the tri-state

Light show: Severe solar storm produces spectacular auroras across the tri-state

2:18
Residents at Success Village finally get a temporary relief after nearly a week with no hot water

Residents at Success Village finally get a temporary relief after nearly a week with no hot water

2:07
Fairfield Public Schools community works to fight hunger, eliminate food waste by donating to food pantries

Fairfield Public Schools community works to fight hunger, eliminate food waste by donating to food pantries

2:31
Thieves use sledgehammers to smash display cases in brazen daytime theft at Westport jewelry store

Thieves use sledgehammers to smash display cases in brazen daytime theft at Westport jewelry store

2:24
 Got unpaid hospital bills? New state law keeps them off your credit report

Got unpaid hospital bills? New state law keeps them off your credit report

1:55
Wilton residents to vote Saturday to decide if the town should have breweries

Wilton residents to vote Saturday to decide if the town should have breweries

0:48
Jury convicts Bridgeport man of 2017 murder of Max Antoine

Jury convicts Bridgeport man of 2017 murder of Max Antoine