Why Venice Beach is the Scooter Wars' Latest Battleground
*By Jacqueline Corba and Carlo Versano *
Venice Beach is the latest battleground in the scooter wars ー the polarizing mode of transport has most tourists excited but many locals groaning.
Bird and Lime seemed to launch overnight, taking the streets by storm and attracting enemies in city councils up and down the West Coast this summer. They both have billion-dollar-plus valuations.
It costs $1 to start a ride via an app, and 15 cents each minute. Scooters can go up to 15 mph, are tracked by GPS, and lock remotely so they can be left virtually anywhere. That is, indeed, part of the controversy.
[Social media accounts](https://www.instagram.com/birdgraveyard/) have spread just as quickly as the scooters themselves, documenting the "creative" ways they're parked, vandalized, and destroyed. The accounts are partially a response to the way in which these scooters were introduced ー suddenly and without any public input.
Regulators are scrambling to account for scooters in their mobility plans. Local lawmakers seem conflicted by emission-free, short-distance transport that's good for the environment but also poses a hazard to public safety.
Santa Monica, where Bird is headquartered, said last week that it's all for electric scooters on its streets ー just not those owned by Bird or Lime. Instead, city officials endorsed companies run by Uber and Lyft for its shared mobility pilot program which consists of e-bikes and scooters. The municipality will make its final determination on Aug. 30, and other cities are watching closely.
For Bird, the move was a slap in the face ー and from its hometown, no less. Both Bird and Lime [protested](http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-santa-monica-scooter-suspension-20180814-story.html) by shutting down their apps in the city for a day, while the companies' supporters [staged] (http://www.smdp.com/scooter-protest-descends-on-council-meeting-that-has-nothing-to-do-with-scooters/168572) a rally.
But just down the beach in Venice, scooters are very popular among tourists and commuters who flock to a neighborhood now known for both its tech start-ups and the famed Muscle Beach.
Sam Cooper, owner of the popular neighborhood cafe Great White, said the scooters are particularly welcome in an area known for its lack of parking.
But he does prefer Bird over Lime.
"You've got to support the locals," Cooper told Cheddar's Alyssa Julya Smith.
Earlier this month, New York City experienced one of the deadliest fires it has seen in decades. 17 people lost their lives in the Fordham section of the Bronx. This was due to a faulty space heater which reportedly began on the lower floor of the 120 unit building. Thanks to the F. D. N. Y. And heroic neighbors, many were able to get out in time. Unfortunately, the toxic smoke surged upwards through a safety door. Now, many advocates say negligence by policymakers and landlords has led to the deaths in black and brown communities from fires that honestly could have been preventable. Legislative Director of Citizen Action of New York, Rebecca Garrard, and the Chair of Journalism and New Media Studies at St. Joseph's College Theodore Hamm, joined Cheddar to discuss more.
Revenue operations platform Clari recently raised $225 million in a Series F financing round led by Blackstone, bringing the company's valuation to more than $2.6 billion. Calri says more than 450 companies from around the world use its A.I.-powered platform to make their revenue operations more connected, efficient, and predictable. Clari CEO Andy Byrne joined Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
With so many nutrition apps, social media influencers, and diet trends, it can be hard to know where to start when it comes to getting healthy. Christina Jax, registered dietitian, nutritionist and health advisor, at the nutrition app LifeSum, says diets shouldn't be just about weight management. She joined Cheddar to give some tips on how to approach health and wellness in a holistic way.
Like countless cities, Las Vegas turned into a ghost town when Covid hit, shutting down casinos, nightclubs, restaurants, and everything else that keeps its economy running. But Sin City has surged back to life, as many bachelorettes and bachelors flock there to celebrate their last months as singles. Travel expert Lee Abbamonte gives an update on the state of the travel industry two years into the pandemic, including how Vegas has lured tourists back to the crowded city.
As controversy dogs the run-up to the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, China is hiring TikTokers and other social media influencers to promote the nation's history, culture, diplomatic efforts, and current trends.
Talent Resources Sports is partnering with ABG Entertainment to host Sports Illustrated The Party during the weekend of Super Bowl LVI, featuring musical performances by Kygo, Jack Harlow, and other guests. David Spencer and Mike Heller, co-CEOs and founders of Talent Resources Sports, joined Cheddar to discuss the details behind putting on the event. “We’re just really pumped that after all of the things that got canceled people will finally have a place to let some steam off in such an exciting moment, such a charged moment with the Super Bowl,” Mike Heller said about putting on the live event after previous COVID-related cancellations.
Coming off of a horrible week for Peloton on the stock market, another character from a TV series died after riding the stationary bike. Mike Wagner on "Billions" was the latest fictional tragedy, just a month after "Mr. Big" suffered a similar fate on the "Sex and the City" reboot "And Just Like That." Peloton tweeted it had not worked with the Showtime series on the episode.
