Staff Writer: Kyle Dietzsch

Email: kdietzsch@umassd.edu

Two of the defining features of UMass Dartmouth are its size and accessibility. Both physically and in terms of student population, this is a fairly small school.

According to Google Maps, a walk across campus should take no more than approximately 25 minutes. Not only that– the campus itself is located just a few minutes’ walk, or an even shorter bus ride, from major shopping centers.

 So, why then, do so many students feel the need to fly around on electric scooters? 

By now, I’m sure we’ve all had an experience like this: You’re walking between classes, when suddenly, someone comes zooming past you at 20 miles per hour, about 6 inches from flattening you into the sidewalk. I can’t be the only one that finds this to be absolutely obnoxious, can I?

Now, before I start to sound like Grampa Simpson yelling at a cloud, let’s examine why e-scooters are so popular among college students in the first place. 

Over the past couple of years, e-scooters have become an increasingly common sight on college campuses around the U.S. This is fairly unsurprising, given that today, most mid-market models are only a couple hundred dollars. And, as battery technology has improved, so have the range and reliability of most e-scooters. Altogether, they present a quick, cheap and fun alternative to walking. Even on a small campus like UMass Dartmouth, students do an awful lot of walking. 

However, this trend also presents major headaches to many campus communities. 

Despite such frequent close calls between e-scooters and pedestrians, most riders seem either unaware of or uninterested in potential safety risks. Think about the people you see riding these scooters every day. 

When was the last time you saw anyone wearing a helmet? Seeing multiple scooters racing, while weaving through foot traffic, is also a regular occurrence. 

They have become so popular in place of walking that you even see people riding them indoors. More than once, I’ve been about to step out of my dorm room when a scooter comes flying by out of nowhere and almost wipes me out. 

Why does simply walking across campus have to be a game of chicken? It seems ridiculous that using a footpath for its intended purpose now means being in somebody’s way and having to dodge in and out of traffic. In fact, in some places, riding an e-scooter or any other motorized vehicle on a sidewalk is prohibited. 

Simply put, when you ride an e-scooter, you’re no longer a pedestrian. At least extend a little bit of courtesy to those of us who travel between our classes the old-fashioned way. 

If you do use an e-scooter to get around, maybe my argument hasn’t convinced you. After all, you pay a whole lot of money to be here, so is it really anyone’s business how you get to class? Besides, walking across campus just takes too long. 

Well, if you can’t slow down for the sake of the rest of the school community, maybe you can do it for your own safety. Recently, Consumer Reports stopped recommending any e-scooters due to safety concerns. As they point out, the standing posture of an e-scooter rider “makes e-scooters exceptionally dangerous when you hit something, particularly at high speed, because you have a higher center of mass and may be more likely to fall headfirst.” Crashes can cause fractures, brain injuries, or worse.

In August of 2026, a student at the University of Utah tragically died after an e-scooter accident on campus. At the same time, accidents and close calls are on the rise across the nation. A report from the Consumer Product Safety Commission displayed that in the U.S., e-scooter related fatalities rose from one in 2017 to 38 in 2024. 

So, what should be done about this? Many schools are tightening restrictions, or even outright banning e-scooters and e-bikes on campus. On September 2nd, an email from the UMass Dartmouth Office of Student Affairs also addressed e-scooter use. This email, directed to the whole student body, reminded the community of rules regarding “micro-transportation.” This includes the fact that riding, storing, and charging scooters indoors is prohibited. 

The email continued: “We recognize that micro-transportation is an important and convenient resource for many members of our community.” 

Well, I would argue that it is neither. E-scooters are a huge hazard to both riders and pedestrians. And, if you really need to get around quickly, there is an existing solution. Buses operate on campus seven days a week, for free! 

In the end, reading this likely won’t stop you from riding an e-scooter to class. But, at the very least, consider slowing down, giving pedestrians room, and wearing a helmet. Think about the fact that with one wrong move, you could end up lying on the concrete, having injured yourself or someone else. 

Alternatively, you could just leave a few minutes earlier and walk. It’s good for you. 

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth or its student body.