Electric Scooters Sharing

[samagon 3263]

On 1/3/2021 at 2:13 PM, hindesky said:

Basically anything that has wheels (except wheelchairs and kids strollers) are not allowed. I still ride in on occasion and see little kids of their little push scooters.

I had mentioned this in the downtown thread for DG, but I'm quite shocked that someone in authority from DG hasn't removed those speed bumps yet for fear of safety. considering that is not the intended use of those things it is a lawsuit in waiting. I imagine even if someone faceplanted off of one of those on a scooter that person would have a very strong court case.

as far as riding bikes through DG, I've never gotten off my bike. as long as their security dudes are riding on bikes, I'm not going to hop off and walk my bike. granted, if I were to run someone over, that would probably be no good for me, so I exercise pretty extreme caution.

Edited January 5 by samagon

[wilcal 1704]

I honestly can't imagine that they are ADA accessible. 

 

Edit: I emailed Gabe at the Mayor's office for people with disabilities to get his thoughts. 

Edit2: Gabe said that his team would investigate for any ADA issues. 

Edited January 7 by wilcal

[Reefmonkey 270]

Good for you, wilcal, I understand that scooters may have become a nuisance in Discovery Green, but blocking off access to a public park for people in wheelchairs is simply not an acceptable solution.

[wilcal 1704]

The people that were running the scooter rental at Discovery Green have moved to.... Buffalo Bayou Park. The  one other place that they are specifically excluded, lol.

There is a scooter shop in EaDo, and it looks to be them that are renting them. 

[Triton 11786]

Man, honestly don't know what to make of the no biking sign in DG... I love riding my bike through there, as long as there aren't a lot of people.

[samagon 3263]

On 1/17/2021 at 10:02 PM, Triton said:

Man, honestly don't know what to make of the no biking sign in DG... I love riding my bike through there, as long as there aren't a lot of people.

I don't see how the security guards they employ can enforce the rule, seeing as they are on bikes as well. my guess is it's a step to try and resolve themselves of any liability should there be a bike/ped accident. 

[wilcal 1704]

9 minutes ago, samagon said:

I don't see how the security guards they employ can enforce the rule, seeing as they are on bikes as well. my guess is it's a step to try and resolve themselves of any liability should there be a bike/ped accident. 

It is a private park so they can do just about whatever they want. Same reason why Buffalo Bayou Park Conservancy can drive gas-powered golf carts around while they are banned for the general public. 

[samagon 3263]

On 1/19/2021 at 9:23 AM, wilcal said:

It is a private park so they can do just about whatever they want. Same reason why Buffalo Bayou Park Conservancy can drive gas-powered golf carts around while they are banned for the general public. 

the city owns the land, it is managed by a private partnership. 

https://www.discoverygreen.com/history-of-discovery-green#:~:text=Discovery Green exemplifies a successful,operates and maintains the park.

Quote

The City of Houston acquired a portion of the land in 2002.  When the rest of the property went up for sale, a group of philanthropists led by Maconda Brown O’Connor of the Brown Foundation, and Nancy G. Kinder of the Kinder Foundation approached then-Mayor Bill White with their idea of turning the space into an urban park. The Mayor agreed and became a strong advocate of a public-private partnership. Several other philanthropic foundations joined the effort, including the Wortham Foundation and the Houston Endowment, Inc. 

 

The City of Houston purchased the remainder of the land in 2004 and created the framework for the park’s construction and operations, including the role of the new organization, Discovery Green Conservancy, incorporated in 2004...

it is a public park, public land at least.

not that it makes a difference in the context of what the security guards can/can't do to people riding scooters, or bicycles, but I'm fairly confident that the rules exist to make it harder for a person to take legal action against the conservancy should a cyclist run over a kid.

anyway, I've been riding my bike in and around discogreen since it opened and I've never had a security guard approach me about riding through the park, and there have been plenty of opportunities for them to do so. 

I have had a security guard approach me about taking photos in the park with my phone, which he said I wasn't allowed to do. which is where the distinction of public land is important, even if it is managed by a private party. I stopped, but I told him he should ask his manager for better guidance on how to not violate the constitution. this was very early in the parks life, and I haven't been approached since. I doubt my experience was what had them adjust their enforcement. I'm sure someone else took a bit more of an aggressive response than I did.

Edited Wednesday at 05:48 PM by samagon

[wilcal 1704]

7 hours ago, samagon said:

the city owns the land, it is managed by a private partnership. 

https://www.discoverygreen.com/history-of-discovery-green#:~:text=Discovery Green exemplifies a successful,operates and maintains the park.

it is a public park, public land at least.

not that it makes a difference in the context of what the security guards can/can't do to people riding scooters, or bicycles, but I'm fairly confident that the rules exist to make it harder for a person to take legal action against the conservancy should a cyclist run over a kid.

anyway, I've been riding my bike in and around discogreen since it opened and I've never had a security guard approach me about riding through the park, and there have been plenty of opportunities for them to do so. 

I have had a security guard approach me about taking photos in the park with my phone, which he said I wasn't allowed to do. which is where the distinction of public land is important, even if it is managed by a private party. I stopped, but I told him he should ask his manager for better guidance on how to not violate the constitution. this was very early in the parks life, and I haven't been approached since. I doubt my experience was what had them adjust their enforcement. I'm sure someone else took a bit more of an aggressive response than I did.

NRG Stadium, Minute Maid, BBVA Stadium, etc are all on public land but they are still private entities that have control of them and do have the ability to limit your constitutional rights. Same thing with the Zoo, or private events at GRB, and so on. 

Edited yesterday at 12:51 AM by wilcal