The electric scooter revolution

Electric scooter companies like Bird and Lime got dragged through the mud when they first launched. People complained that they were a public nuisance and ruined city sidewalks. Bystanders loved to throw the scooters into lakes or the ocean.

Then there was the whole fact that the margins didn’t really make sense for a company like this to exist. They were the blunt end of a lot of jokes in the media. Yet, more scooter companies were launching and there were even startups that provide infrastructure to start your own scooter company.

Electric scooter companies quickly became the poster child of reckless VC funded growth. Then of course the pandemic happened and these companies went to $0 in revenue overnight.

I’m not here to say any of the above is untrue. They are valid concerns and I do share the sentiment that this may not be a sustainable long-term business model. With all that said, these electric scooters have been a net positive for San Francisco (and other cities) as whole. We have additional forms of transportation throughout the city that is environmentally friendly and fun for the passenger.

I have personally been riding these scooters into work almost every day at the fraction of the cost of a Lyft. They make my life and commute much easier and enjoyable. Today, I signed up for a Lime monthly pass.

Many VCs like to say that they are investing in companies to build a better future and I believe companies like Lime are doing just that.

These companies have a long way to go to be a sustainable long-term business, but before we drag these companies through the mud some more, we should all acknowledge that these scooters have been positive as a whole for residents and society.