For many UT students, scooters are the easiest way to get around. They’ve become a regular part of life in Knoxville, and as more of them hit the streets and sidewalks, safety is getting more attention.
Knoxville Police Department spokesperson Scott Erland said the department has recorded 16 scooter-related collisions citywide since August 2023, 13 resulting in injury. No fatalities have been recorded over the last two years. The majority of the incidents occurred downtown, including accidents on Broadway, Clinch Avenue and North Central Street.
Chris Cherry, a UT professor of civil and environmental engineering who studies micromobility, believes scooters can be a safe and sustainable mode of transportation when the right environment is in place, but can also expose riders to risks when the infrastructure is inadequate…