No standards for scooters

By Phil Witte
Daily Forty-Niner

The non-motorized kick scooters that are wreaking havoc on city streets are not having as destructive an effect on Cal State Long Beach as the rest of the state.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reported 4,140 scooter-related injuries in August, a 26 percent increase from all of 1999. To date, there has been only one scooter-related injury reported at CSULB Student Health Services.

"It was only a minor sprain and a bruise," said Larry Harvey, clinical coordinator of the Health Center.

Since the scooters are new, safety regulations for their use are not in place, but the situation is being monitored, said Lt. Stan Skipworth of University Police.

"The Vehicle Code does not require helmets for scooters, but the state legislature is studying the situation closely and we will follow their lead on any requirements," Skipworth said. "Although it is not required yet, we do recommend the use of helmets when using scooters though."

Although students are not currently using helmets when riding scooters on campus, some said they would not resist a helmet requirement.

Freshman Ryan Salenga always uses his scooter to get around campus.

"It gets me to class quick. It cuts a trip across campus from 15 minutes to five," Salenga said

Salenga said he does not wear a helmet now and has never had an accident, but if helmets were required, he would comply with the regulation.

Sophomore Lee Kim has been using his scooter on campus for about a month.

"I wear a helmet when I ride off campus, but I don't think I need one on campus," Kim said. "If they required helmets on campus I would wear one."

Harvey said he thinks the lack of accidents on campus could be attributed to college students being able to ride scooters better than the young children who are being injured.  He said he also sees potential danger in misuse of the scooters.