E-bikes and electric scooters are having a golden moment at American universities. where many students choose them for classes and move around the university towns.
Unfortunately, all that glitters is not gold and with the start of the new academic year imminent Several higher education institutions have decided to ban their use and storage in dormitories.
The focus of the ban is the concern for the safety of students: Although the numbers are small, the batteries installed in these vehicles (in the case of inferior products) are becoming more and more likely to catch fire while being charged, and no campus wants – rightly so – to create a dangerous (also potential) situation for its students. Aside from that, Accidents involving e-bikes, scooters and pedestrians cannot be ignoredespecially in the university context where there is a large number of people often distracted and/or in a hurry.
The prerequisites for possible accidents, also in this case, are all present and are often cited in the official documents of the campus supporters of the ban.
Boston College trustees, for example, sent a letter to students earlier this year giving both examples of the reason for the ban:
“In recent weeks, Boston College trustees have become increasingly concerned about the use of electric bicycles and other electric transportation devices on campus, particularly with regard to the personal health and safety of cyclists, pedestrians and building occupants. Many faculty, staff and students have reported near misses and restricted access to facilities due to improperly stowed e-bikes and scooters, and charging the lithium batteries in such vehicles has resulted in numerous fires across the United States. In addition, several British Columbia students sustained injuries from falls from e-bikes and scooters, and these incidents have resulted in serious injuries on college campuses across the country.”.
In addition to Boston College, Fordham University in New York City and Yale University have also banned all battery-powered transportation; San Diego State University also shared the same opinion, which then reversed its steps and reversed the decision. after a significant backlash.
