Scoot Over: Make Space, Not Hazards
If you’ve ever walked through a city, you’ve probably stepped around a shared scooter or e-bike left in the middle of a sidewalk. Maybe you muttered something under your breath, maybe you didn’t think twice. For a lot of able-bodied folks, it’s a mild annoyance.
But for blind pedestrians, it’s more than that—it’s a trip hazard, an unexpected roadblock, and a reminder that our public spaces aren’t designed with everyone in mind.
These scooters and bikes often end up sprawled across narrow sidewalks, tipped on their sides or leaning awkwardly into walking paths. A sighted person might simply step over the handlebars and keep going. But for a blind person navigating with a cane, it's a different story.
They might have to stop entirely to investigate the obstacle, feel around to identify what it is, and figure out how to safely move past it. In the worst case, the handlebar or wheel becomes a tripping hazard that could lead to a fall.
What Can You Do?
Sometimes, allyship is as simple as noticing the world around you and choosing to act.
If you ride a shared scooter or bike, park it responsibly. Keep it upright and well out of the walking path. Tucking it close to a bike rack, tree, or designated zone helps keep sidewalks clear and safe.
If you see a scooter blocking the sidewalk, move it. Taking action when we notice issues can quietly make a city more accessible to everyone.
Allyship in Motion
Part of being a good ally to the blind community means thinking about barriers you don’t always notice because you’ve never had to navigate the world without sight. Shared scooters are just one example of how small oversights in public behavior can have an outsized impact.
Next time you see one in the way, take a second to move it. It’s a small effort that says: accessibility is everyone’s responsibility.
P.S. While scooters are a common culprit, this goes beyond just Lime or Bird. It includes anything unexpected on the sidewalk: a low-hanging branch from a tree outside your home (which could hit someone in the face), a car parked slightly out of a driveway (where the cane might miss the bumper but a shoulder won’t), or construction signs placed without clearance.
These things might seem small, but they add up. So next time you're walking, take a moment to look around—not just with your eyes, but with awareness. You might notice something you hadn’t before. And that awareness? That’s allyship in action.
