ELECTRIC SCOOTERS POSE A UNIQUE THREAT

Everyone wants clean and safe waterways.
by Mike Stout, President and Founder of Michigan Waterway Stewards. August 22, 2023.
There are three key components to Michigan Waterways Stewards program: Stewardship, Education, and Advocacy. The project that we are about to discuss, and the reason for the following survey, excites us because it encompasses all three. 
Local complaints about electric scooters being tossed into our rivers has been ongoing since they were offered as an alternative transportation solution. While our journey of discovery began in December 2022, it wasn’t until recently, when a father and son team of magnet fishers from Grand Rapids discovered the enormity of the problem,

The problem was far greater than we imagined. For reasons of personal safety and environmental risks we feel immediate action is required.

We value your thought and opinion and ask that you share via a short 12-point survey. To go directly to the survey click on the button below. To learn more about our journey of discovery, unsuccessful attempts to connect and work with Spin, and research about the potential environmental risks electric scooters, please read below.

We thank you for your interest.
MICHIGAN WATERWAYS STEWARDS - ELECTRIC SCOOTER PROJECT BACKGROUND
Picture
l-r: Connie Cannon, Tony Kuhlman, George Stockman
Picture
MSU senior, physics major, Dan Koch.
Picture
l-r: Mike Stout, George Stockman, Tony Kuhlman, Connie Cannon.
In December 2022 a group of four paddlers made their way down the Red Cedar River and easily retrieved 16 electric scooters. The next day, seven more scooters were retrieved below the Hagadorn Road bridge. Of the 23 scooters nearly all were Spin. So alarmed by our findings we reached out to Spin, asking for a meeting to explore how we could work together towards the common goal of keeping the river clear and safe.

​Spin is the leading provider of micromobility in the greater Lansing/East Lansing area. They claim to be the global leader.
We met with Spin, January 12, at East Lansing’s Blue Owl Cafe. Little came of the meeting other than the expression of mutual interest for environmental stewardship. Spin committed to quickly picking up any of their scooters retrieved from the river once notified.

To encourage a collaborative partnership we offered to help promote their company’s commitment to environmental stewardship, assist with their community outreach, invited them to join us in future scooter retrieval efforts, and more. At the time we thought there may 30 more scooters remaining in the river. 
They responded, “At the present time Spin is unable to join in any of the other activities that you discussed.” They made no attempt to reset expectations about the number of Spin scooters we thought had been lost to our area rivers. We still had in mind a count of 30.

​To help us better understand, and to explain to others, how their enclosed battery packs pose little risk to our waterway as they claimed, we asked them to prepare a letter. They did not respond.
​
In a later email Spin voluntarily shared, “We are working diligently with the University PD to set up alerts when scooters go offline in areas with bodies of water. Our goal is to put an end to this issue going forward.”  This gave us reassurance that they were taking this matter seriously, that they were fully engaged and committed to creating a solve. We were encouraged.  

At this time we do not have any insights with regards to the success of Spin and MSU's Police Department collaborative efforts.

AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH - REVEALED

Red Cedar River Stewardship, July - August 2023, Bogue Street and Farm Lane bridges.
You can imagine our surprise, and even greater disappointment, when the enormity of the problem of electric scooters lost to our rivers was revealed. In mid-July 2023, a Grand Rapids father and son magnet fishers team, Venture and Xan DuLow, made their way to the Bogue Street bridge when their original plans fell through. They had no expectations other than to explore a new site and enjoy the day.

We were all shocked when they retrieved 30 scooters and 26 bikes, at a rate of about one per every ten minutes. They described the day as a record haul. Because so much remained they returned the next weekend. With the help of Lansing’s own Joe Naerebout, they retrieved an additional 45 scooters and 16 bikes. A similar rate of retrieved scooters were reported the third consecutive week.
Over a period of five separate days, 139 electric scooters,  63 bicycles, and other evidence of campus and urban living has been retrieved from Bogue Street Bridge. Of the 139 scooters, 125 or about 90%, were thought to be Spin's. Only Spin knows how many more remain, but  they're not telling.
Bogue Street is only one of six bridges that span the Red Cedar in the East Lansing and MSU campus area. Then there are many more and much larger bridges in Lansing where scooters are regularly spotted and retrieved. Without Spin revealing how many scooters they have lost to our rivers, we can only imagine. 

Because of the problems that such a large pile of twisted metal and collection of lithium ion batteries creates, we have repeatedly reached out to Spin for their assistance. To help plan and resource our retrieval efforts we have asked Spin to share how many of their scooters have been lost to our local rivers and by location. They have not yet responded.  

For whatever their motivation, Spin has neither been transparent nor cooperative. They attempt to deflect responsibility by blaming others. As quoted in the Lansing State Journey, Spin regularly states, “We can't control 'reckless individuals' who throw scooters in Red Cedar River." 

It appears Spin is taking the position that because they are not responsible for those who tossed their scooters in the river,  they are not responsible for:
  • Conveying their loss rate and the enormity of the problem to others,
  • Retrieving their product from our rivers,
  • Assisting others who are actively retrieving their scooters from our rivers,​
  • Conveying the inherent risks that their scooters may pose to personal safety and the environment. ​​
  • Meeting the terms as defined in their contract.
Evident by their practices, it appears Spin is leaving it up to others to discover the scope of the problem, search for and retrieve their lost inventory, create a solution, and incur all associated costs.

​There is a growing sentiment that Spin is not acting as a strong community partner nor global leader as they claim to be. We agree
A four point comprehensive campaign to help solve this problem could be launched within 2-4 weeks.  See section at bottom of page below for details.
Per the reporting of Lansing's 100.7 FM, they share a quote from Unagi, a manufacturer of electric scooters, about how chemicals in electric scooter batteries can pose a serious problem if not disposed of correctly.
"Batteries typically contain toxic chemicals such as lead, mercury, cadmium and nickel. These metals are intentionally added to the battery's cell chemistry because they are good conductors of electricity. But, once the batteries have reached their end-of-life, these same elements can leak into the environment when improperly disposed of and contaminate soil or groundwater."
Per the reporting of The Spokesman-Review, a Spokane newspaper, aeading U.S. ecotoxicologist gives warning about the dangers of lithium ion powered scooters.
Hugh Lefcort, a Gonzaga University biology professor specializing in ecotoxicology, tells us, lithium ion powered scooters are particularly problematic as they pose a serious threat to aquatic life. Unlike iron, lithium and heavy metals in rechargeable batteries are toxic, Lefcort said. High doses of lithium can impact heart contraction in mammals. The cobalt and nickel in batteries can cause damage, too.

​“All heavy metals are toxic to different degrees,” he added.
Per the reporting of LSJ, in Spin's contract there is language about inoperable scooters. It reads:
 "Spin shall remove any and all inoperable or unsafe scooters from the fleet as soon as reasonably possible and in any event, within 24 hours of the initial onset of that condition."

STOP THE SPIN - IT'S TIME FOR REAL ACTION.
​HELP US RAISE AWARENESS AND SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.

We ask you, please take a few minutes to complete a 12-point survey to share your thoughts and opinions about the importance of waterways stewardship in the greater Lansing/East Lansing metropolitan area. 
With this information we hope our cities and MSU officials immediately act to address this problem and continue their efforts to make our rivers cleaner and safre for the benefit and enjoyment of all. 

CREATING A COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTION

A Four Point Campaign Could Be Launched As Soon As 2-4 Weeks.
It is essential to create a comprehensive and collaborative campaign, including preemptive measures, to slow and eventually stop the act of throwing off electric scooters, bikes, and other large objects in our rivers. There are four components to a successful campaign:
1.  Awareness (PSAs)
2.  Deterrence (Signage and cameras)
3.  Enforcement (Fines and citations)
4.  Stewardship (River cleanup)

The most effective work is completed up front. It delivers the greatest results at the lowest possible cost. If done well, each subsequent step becomes easier and less costly. The last step, an act of last resort. is the least effective and most expensive (and is dangerous) to execute.  It is currently proving incrementally more difficult,  time consuming, and costly, due to Spin’s lack of cooperation.
Not included in the above list of steps, but essential to any sustainable campaign, is the important reward/recognition component  Those partners, whether individual or organizational, should be proportionately recognized for their contribution.
With full commitment, a campaign could be created and launched within two-to-four weeks.
If you have an interest to learn more about our observations, work, and recommended actions, we welcome the opportunity to visit and discuss. Drop us a note via our Contact Form and we'll get back to you ASAP.

JOIN US | MAKE A LASTING IMPACT | THIS IS OUR LEGACY
MICHIGAN WATERWAYS STEWARDS PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS