FOLLOWUP: Metro bus crash blamed on unoccupied scooter

We followed up with Metro today to ask what they could tell us about the crash reported here early Sunday, with a coach reported to have veered off SW Roxbury and through a fence. We took several questions to Metro spokesperson Jeff Switzer, who incorporated the replies into this response:

Based on preliminary information, about 3:06 a.m. early Sunday morning a RapidRide H Line bus traveling westbound on Southwest Roxbury Street left the roadway at 22nd Avenue Southwest to avoid striking a Lime scooter that was lying in the roadway that was mistaken for either an animal or a person. The bus went through a fenced driveway and partially into a backyard.

Seattle Fire Department responded to assist. The bus driver is doing OK and was not injured. One passenger was (treated for) what initially was reported to be a leg injury. Two other passengers remained on board for a period of time due in part to a customer mobility issue. They later boarded another bus. A Metro truck arrived about 3:56 a.m. to tow the bus back to base for inspection and repairs.

WSPK June 10, 2024 (5:11 pm)

They leave those blasted rideshare scooters everywhere. Right in the middle of the bike lane is my personal favorite. A week or so ago one turned up deep in the Schmitz Park trail network.

newnative June 10, 2024 (5:20 pm)

They should have the technology to ban riders who do this.
- Brandon June 11, 2024 (11:48 am)
  
  WS Bloggers:
  Cars get stolen – “Fine the auto manufacturers”.
  Bikes show up in random places – “Ban the riders, not the manufacturers”.
  At least there’s consistency in not going after the people in the wrong. You know, the ones stealing the cars and bikes and abandoning them in random places.
heartless June 10, 2024 (5:31 pm)

Maybe I misunderstand how they work, but shouldn’t there be a record of who rented the scooter last/failed to park it somewhere appropriate? Maybe this one in the roadway was parked on the sidewalk and then tossed into the road, but the Schmitz Park one, for example… Just seems like the sort of thing should be easy to track.
Ws resident June 10, 2024 (6:51 pm)

It’s not even really the riders that are leaving them like this. I’ve been seeing homeless people kicking them and throwing them into the road and at cars countless times, sure some riders can be neglectful but the app is very strict on where you park them and even requires a picture when you do park. And most of the ones kicked and thrown were parked properly. Let’s not blame the riders all the time..
- Bill June 10, 2024 (7:33 pm)
  
  Uh – I respect your opinion but please don’t state it as fact. Especially throwing the “homeless” under the bus (so to speak) as the blame. That’s unproven and in my opinion unfair. The homeless aren’t the cause of all inexplicable evil – however, in the spirit of your comment, Trump and Republicans ARE to blame for every unexplained evil act!! 😂😂
West Seattle Mad Sci Guy June 10, 2024 (8:12 pm)

I’ve seen many mentally unstable people throwing these scooters around or kicking them over. But it’s also sometimes just troublemakers who like to move the scooters to block people. In short – don’t assume the scooter was put in the horrible person spot by the last person who rode it.

CarDriver June 10, 2024 (5:28 pm)

WSB. Many moons ago a commentator said that these bike/scooter rental outfits would required by the city to require renters to properly park them. Any truth to that? As WSPK noted they currently are dumped anywhere and everywhere.

WSB June 10, 2024 (10:02 pm)

Lots of data from SDOT here, maybe including what you’re looking for:
https://www.seattle.gov/transportation/projects-and-programs/programs/new-mobility-program/scooter-bike-share-data

Foop June 10, 2024 (6:08 pm)

Everyone here needs to remember it’s entirely possible someone threw the scooter into the roadway from the sidewalk, and that someone may not have been the last customer / rider of said scooter.

K June 10, 2024 (6:46 pm)

How fast was the driver going that they couldn’t stop when they first saw the scooter and only had the option of driving off the road and through a fence? It’s maybe a block and a half past a well-lit bus stop. I know drivers work under a lot of conditions, but I’ve also seen them stop on a dime when it is an actual person in front of the coach. This whole situation is weird.

F June 10, 2024 (8:27 pm)

We have had a bus driver shortage, which includes less experienced drivers having less capacity to train new drivers until they are ready. Trainers have been working overtime and new drivers are pushed to full-time service too early. It also seems like newer drivers are more likely to be forced into the late night shifts, as senior drivers will take daytime shifts for their own safety. This accident may just be a concrete example of how all these factors have real consequences on driver, rider, and community safety. https://www.theurbanist.org/2024/05/18/metro-continues-to-face-labor-pinch/
- bill June 10, 2024 (9:23 pm)
  
  Less experienced? What, is Metro hiring kids before they’ve finished driver’s ed? (Is driving taught anymore?) How much training do you need to know not to run stuff over?
  - C June 10, 2024 (9:59 pm)
    
    bill – it’s a 30-40,000 lb bus – it’s not going to handle like a prius
- East Coast Cynic June 10, 2024 (9:24 pm)
  
  Thanks for the terrific article from the urbanist. The writer does an excellent job of presenting the problems, the issues and the context in which they exist.
- Danimal June 10, 2024 (11:52 pm)
  
  The driver shortage leading to excessive inexperience has been very apparent – even as I didn’t know there was a driver shortage. I simply guessed that must be the case based on observation over the past year or so. Way too many bad bus drivers on the road – going way too fast, going way too slow, making illegal turns, blocking intersections, not using turn signals and hazard flashers to signal status and intention – it’s bad. I’m truly surprised we haven’t heard multiple stories of busses killing pedestrians and other drivers. Once the driver shortage is resolved, Metro needs to do some frequent evaluation by whatever method, and weed out the worst of the worst. I’ve been shocked by how bad some of the bus drivers are lately.
CorvidFan June 11, 2024 (11:15 am)

It was at 3am, it would have been dark and the driver probably just saw a shadowy outline.

Alki resident June 10, 2024 (6:53 pm)

Those scooters are stolen and parted out all the time. Someone must’ve tossed it. That person probably didn’t even rent it.

Rob June 10, 2024 (7:23 pm)

Metro drivers put up with SO MUCH. Especially the swing shift drivers.

waikikigirl June 10, 2024 (8:34 pm)

We drove by the same day this happened and there was damage all the way from Roxbury to the white fencing. Thats quite the distance for that bus before it stopped. It is very lucky no one was hurt.

Claudia Williams June 10, 2024 (11:00 pm)

The scooters are still owned by someone. That someone should be responsible for their property. When did we decide it was okay for a business to have their property be put/left just about anywhere? If we made the business actually responsible for their property we’d be rid of the scooter-nonsense by now.

anonyme June 11, 2024 (6:12 am)

I’ve had to drag and move these pieces of crap on several occasions when they were blocking the sidewalk or bus access. Once, one was left blocking my gate so that I couldn’t leave my property without falling over it. These should only be allowed to be left at the destination point – not somewhere else where the rider doesn’t have to look at/deal with it.

Jay June 11, 2024 (8:56 am)

I’ve fought with city council over the scooters. There will be no enforcement. The steps are 1) Find it, fix it. 2) The scooter company gets notified within a few hours/next day. 3) The scooter company has a day to move it. 4) No consequences for the obstruction. It’s a mess, there needs to be a find for the scooter company that they can pass along to the customer. Because there is that two day delay for the scooter to move before any consequences, there will never be any sort of consequences for blocking roads, bike lanes, and sidewalks.