The New York Times, July 27, 2018: The week in tech: inequality rising
The murder happened in one of our most public spaces, the transportation system used by all but the wealthiest. And it’s decaying visibly, rapidly, painfully. Every commute is an ordeal for BART’s two million weekly users, with cars jammed beyond capacity. Trains are filled with trash, the homeless sprawl over the seats, and the system is increasingly unsafe. Right before Ms. Wilson’s killing, there was another homicide. Right before that, there was an attack that might have prompted a death. (An investigation is ongoing.) Violent crime on BART is up 69 percent over the decade.
Like New York’s and Washington’s subway systems, BART is falling apart. But even as public transit stumbles, another transportation story is playing out. Start-ups are deploying motorized scooters across the country — Charlotte, Baltimore, Cambridge — generally on the principle that it is better to ask forgiveness than permission. They dump them on sidewalks, and people turn them on with an app. Bird, the leading scooter company, now has a valuation of $2 billion. It is less than a year old, but investors are convinced that sidewalks are the next road to riches.
Supporters say the scooters are fun and sensible, and will help relieve congestion. Critics say that once again the public infrastructure is being carved up for private gain, and it’s dangerous besides. Beverly Hills just banned scooters for six months, but that is an option that very few communities seem willing to take.
