Getting Around Safely in Washington DC
Residents and tourists in Washington, D.C. have more options than ever for getting around the city quickly and cheaply. Metro rail and bus transportation remains an attractive choice for many, particularly residents, although the system’s rush-hour crowding and frequent delays make it unreliable. Uber and Lyft provide point-to-point service, but passengers pay a premium for the convenience, and detractors say the prevalence of ridesharing services doesn’t reduce traffic problems (since Uber and Lyft drivers remain on the streets when they do not have passengers).
Car-sharing services like Car2Go and Zipcar reduce some traffic, but at the expense of taking up valuable street-parking space. Additionally, these services require the user to have a valid driver’s license, and make the user responsible for any property damage to the vehicle, including vandalism or other unpredictable events. For many, that kind of risk is just too great. These services include a limited form of liability insurance, but they only protect other drivers; for protection of the user, it may be necessary to have a personal auto insurance policy. Cohen & Cohen
For the environmentally-conscious and those looking to get more exercise, bicycle-sharing has become extremely popular. Bike-sharing comes in two major flavors: docked bikes, which must be picked up and dropped off at established stations (usually close to a metro stop or other major hub) and dockless bikes, which employ a locking mechanism to only allow users with an app to ride.
These two options have disadvantages, however. For docked bikes, it’s necessary to have a start and destination near the docking stations, or riders can end up walking nearly as far as they rode. Dockless bikes can be dropped off anywhere, but the same feature means they aren’t always readily available and their large footprints can easily clog sidewalks. Additionally, both docked and dockless bikes may prove challenging for many riders on the steep hills that cover many wards in the District.
Finally, riders can use the numerous electric scooters that can be found on sidewalks and street corners around the city. These allow rapid point-to-point transportation at a very low entry cost, but they are often the most dangerous option. Electric scooters can be prone to breakdowns and can fail suddenly in hazardous conditions. They also subject riders to increased risk in collisions and a high likelihood of injury if sidewalk defects or uneven pavement cause the scooter to seize up abruptly.
If you have had an accident involving an electric scooter all our personal injury lawyers today.
