{"id":128553,"date":"2021-12-20T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-12-20T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nursingstudybay.com\/2021\/12\/20\/comp-1-research-paper-essay-2\/"},"modified":"2021-12-20T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2021-12-20T00:00:00","slug":"comp-1-research-paper-essay-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.studyproessays.com\/help\/comp-1-research-paper-essay-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Comp 1 Research Paper Essay"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

1<\/p>\n

81037<\/p>\n

A Children\u0092s Toy in an Adult World<\/h3>\n

Since the beginning of time, humans have continuously looked for new ways of getting<\/p>\n

from point A to point B quickly and at a relatively low cost. Over the past decade, the desire for<\/p>\n

fast, cheap, and reliable modes of public transportation has grown significantly. The investments<\/p>\n

made in public transportation have created and built new services around the country. The cities<\/p>\n

that have made these investments are reaping the benefits of ridership and economic growth.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

As<\/p>\n

technology advances, the public transportation industry is booming with new ideas and<\/p>\n

innovations that are changing the way humans live their lives. These technologies provide<\/p>\n

citizens with easily accessible and cost-effective means of getting around. However, some of<\/p>\n

these new innovations which have come in the form of an electric scooter, pose many dangers to<\/p>\n

the health and safety of the rider as well as those around them. While these scooters provide<\/p>\n

quick and easy transportation, the dangers they present can most easily be seen in an increasingly<\/p>\n

popular form of transportation, the Bird electric scooter.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n<\/p>\n

The year 1886 is rarely talked about, yet it is one of the most symbolic, and revolutionary<\/p>\n

periods of time in the modern world: the genesis of the present-day automobile. It was in this<\/p>\n

year that German inventor, Karl Benz patented his Benz-Patent-Motorwagen, making cars<\/p>\n

widely accessible in the early twentieth century. It was over twenty years after the automobile\u0092s<\/p>\n

inception into the lives of thousands that the technology became readily available to the masses.<\/p>\n

In 1908, American inventor Henry Ford wanted to build a car for the multitudes. He<\/p>\n

wanted it to be large enough for the family, but small enough for the individual to run and care<\/p>\n

2<\/p>\n

for. Ford claimed it would be constructed of only the finest materials, by the best men to be<\/p>\n

hired, and after the simplest designs that modern engineering could devise. His main objective is<\/p>\n

still a factor that holds true with today’s inventors. It was to be so low in price that no man<\/p>\n

making a good salary would be unable to own one, and enjoy with his family the blessing of the<\/p>\n

embodiment of the independence and freedoms associated that founded this great country. Ford\u0092s<\/p>\n

Model T, generally regarded as the first affordable automobile, was the car that opened travel to<\/p>\n

the common middle-class American.<\/h3>\n

Along with the car came the development of the assembly line which eliminated<\/p>\n

individual handcrafting. By mechanically moving the parts to the assembly work and moving the<\/p>\n

semi-finished assembly from workstation to workstation, a finished product can be assembled<\/p>\n

faster and with less labor than by having workers carry parts to a stationary piece for assembly.<\/p>\n

This changed the way that many of the products that are used today were created. It made mass<\/p>\n

production possible and made those products cost-effective so that anyone could afford them<\/p>\n

without the worry of going broke.<\/h3>\n

For roughly two hundred years, \u0093getting around was an arduous and exhausting<\/p>\n

experience for Americans due to poor road conditions and inadequate modes of transportation\u0094<\/p>\n

(Krotova). As growing demands met with the minds of brilliant creators, many different methods<\/p>\n

of transportation have become available for use. Some have faded away with time and new<\/p>\n

creations. Others have proven to be ahead of their time and are still used today. History has seen<\/p>\n

the use of horse-drawn carriages, trains, bicycles, the steam and electric powered vehicle, and<\/p>\n

most recently the gas powered car. With these staples of modern transportation, one can only<\/p>\n

3<\/p>\n

wonder what is to come for the future of innovations in public transport. That innovation has<\/p>\n

arrived in the form of a three foot tall, two-wheeled, battery operated scooter.<\/p>\n

While manually operated push scooters have been available since the early 1990s, only<\/p>\n

recently in late 2017 did the more mature, rechargeable, battery-powered, older brother come<\/p>\n

onto the main stage. The introduction of the Bird scooter has been one of immense criticism and<\/p>\n

praise as the product as well as the company has created new obstacles in cities across the United<\/p>\n

States that are forcing individuals to change the way they live their lives. Inspired by the<\/p>\n

enormous success of startups like Uber and Lyft, car-based ride-sharing companies that have<\/p>\n

boomed in popularity since their introduction, a former executive at both companies, Travis<\/p>\n

Vanderzanden created the Bird scooter. These scooters have a brief and growing history<\/p>\n

throughout the country.<\/h3>\n

Bird is a dockless, rechargeable scooter-share company based in Santa Monica,<\/p>\n

California. It operates electric scooters in cities throughout North America, at a cost of one dollar<\/p>\n

to rent, plus fifteen to twenty cents per every minute the scooter is in use. Weighing nearly<\/p>\n

twenty-five pounds, the scooters can move at speeds topping out at fifteen miles per hour and<\/p>\n

can travel roughly fifteen miles before needing to be charged. During the first year of the young<\/p>\n

company’s existence, it has faced vast criticism. The company seems to sweep this under the rug<\/p>\n

due to its claimed value of $2 billion dollars.<\/p>\n

Bird has done many things in order to ensure maximum profits while ignoring many<\/p>\n

apparent dangers and malpractices. For example, by avoiding the use of employees needed to<\/p>\n

charge the scooters, the company has placed their charging needs in the hands of gig workers.<\/p>\n

Bird scooters are charged by contractual workers who sign up on Bird\u0092s website to be<\/p>\n

4<\/p>\n

\u0093chargers.\u0094 After they are approved, the company sends them all necessary charging equipment<\/p>\n

and pays the chargers between three to twenty dollars to charge the scooters overnight, then<\/p>\n

place them at designated \u0093nests\u0094 throughout the service area in the morning. With the number of<\/p>\n

scooters that need to be picked up charging can become competitive. Chargers use vans to pick<\/p>\n

up scooters all over the city. Given the widely distributed nature of the scooter, this kind of<\/p>\n

charging system is essential to making the economics of the system work. Bird exploits the gig<\/p>\n

workers since it passes many of the expenses that are usually handled by companies onto the<\/p>\n

workers, such as taxes, benefits (or lack of), and expenses for wear and tear on vehicles. This<\/p>\n

makes the earnings for the time spent working less than minimum wage for some chargers,<\/p>\n

especially when more new people start competing for the same number of scooters in a given<\/p>\n

area. In some areas, competition between rival chargers has resulted in violence.<\/p>\n

The controversies that surround the company are not hard to find and have been cited in<\/p>\n

many cities across the country. Bird tends to enter new communities without first informing<\/p>\n

municipal and other local authorities of their intent to start operations in their jurisdiction. This<\/p>\n

does not allow the local regulatory agencies enough time to formulate new rules that would<\/p>\n

properly protect all of their residents without hindering the new service. In many of those new<\/p>\n

cities, Bird has been levied fines for operating a business without a license, failure to follow<\/p>\n

various business zoning laws, and for allowing parked scooters to accumulate outside of the<\/p>\n

designated area in such a way that would block sidewalks.<\/p>\n

Many of the rules that the company put into place are often flouted by many scooter<\/p>\n

riders. Birds safety protocol is available on the company\u0092s website under the safety tab. The set<\/p>\n

of rules listed consist of where to ride, where to park, the rules of the road, use of caution, and<\/p>\n

5<\/p>\n

more specifically how to find, operate, and ride the scooter. While Bird does a good job of listing<\/p>\n

all of the possible ways to ensure the ride will be as safe as possible, the inevitable always<\/p>\n

happens. This is where the term \u0093rules are made for breaking\u0094 comes most readily to mind. The<\/p>\n

Bird business model is supported by the absolutely transparent fiction that people will abide by<\/p>\n

the rules. Few riders wear helmets, which are required by the company and state legislatures in<\/p>\n

some instances. Helmets are even available for purchase from the company\u0092s website. Lots of<\/p>\n

people ride double, even with small children onboard which is forbidden. People ditch the<\/p>\n

scooters on sidewalks, creating hazards for pedestrians. The user is also supposed to be at least<\/p>\n

eighteen years of age with a valid driver\u0092s license in order to ride a Bird, a requirement that is<\/p>\n

frequently disregarded.<\/h3>\n

When health and safety are on the line, it is crucial that one company\u0092s new product<\/p>\n

doesn’t infringe on your right to move freely in public spaces without the fear of serious injury,<\/p>\n

or even death. The company makes it clear that you are on your own if you crash into the<\/p>\n

pavement or even an oncoming SUV while riding Bird\u0092s scooter. By renting a Bird you are<\/p>\n

agreeing to \u0093fully release, indemnify, and hold harmless\u0094 (Bird) the company for injury, death,<\/p>\n

and property damage among other losses. Robin Abcarian, a reporter for the ?Los Angeles Times,<\/p>\n

reported in the paper\u0092s July 6, 2018 issue that a \u0093Westside tech entrepreneur and her<\/p>\n

seven-year-old son were walking on a sidewalk at UCLA when a Bird rider crashed into her at<\/p>\n

full speed, briefly knocking her unconscious. Her doctor likened the force of impact to being<\/p>\n

tackled by a football player\u0094 (Abcarian). The woman, who chose not to have her name<\/p>\n

mentioned in the article, was contemplating suing Bird. After contacting both her health and auto<\/p>\n

6<\/p>\n

insurance, neither of the two were willing to cover the costs of the damages done. The woman<\/p>\n

was left to find out the bitter truth of the company\u0092s release statement.<\/p>\n

Some scooter riders have chosen to ride on the sidewalks due to their sense of<\/p>\n

vulnerability in sharing the roads with cars and other vehicles. On the companies website, it<\/p>\n

instructs riders to take to the streets and ride the scooters in the designated bike lane. Claiming<\/p>\n

that by allowing the scooters to intertwine with the rest of traffic, there will be no issue of build<\/p>\n

up on the sidewalks. Bird tells its riders to follow the laws of whatever cities are providing the<\/p>\n

scooters. The problem is that riders don’t always follow the rules and the company is well aware<\/p>\n

of this. The company\u0092s business model instructs the riders to discard their spent scooters along<\/p>\n

sidewalks and roadways, which in turn does the opposite of their intentions. This blocks the<\/p>\n

public use of sidewalks and streets leading to congestion and an increased risk of accidents<\/p>\n

involving riders and pedestrians.<\/h3>\n

Out of all the fallacies associated with the company, there is one thing that holds true.<\/p>\n

Despite the dangers and all of the negative occurrences with the product, the company will<\/p>\n

remain to stay in business. The skeptics say that these electronic scooter startups are annoying<\/p>\n

and wildly overvalued. The optimists say these scooters are super fun and are liable to change<\/p>\n

public transportation for the better. The issue with these scooter startups is that the companies<\/p>\n

tend to reel in huge amounts of cash before attaining a clear view on how the economics will<\/p>\n

work and where it can operate. All of the problems that these electric scooters face in cities still<\/p>\n

need to be solved.<\/h2>\n

Even though it is a relatively young company, and has already been banned in several<\/p>\n

cities and states across the country, Bird scooters are sought after by investors. \u0093Investors<\/p>\n

7<\/p>\n

bidding up scooter prices are motivated not by fundamentals but by a fear of missing out\u0094<\/p>\n

(Levy). Venture capitalists are also betting that this fledgling market will grow rapidly as people<\/p>\n

working downtown and attending college on big campuses recognize a new affordable and<\/p>\n

efficient way to get around. However, some investors are hesitant to pour money into these<\/p>\n

companies with the fear that they might become the next Segway, another technology that was<\/p>\n

intended to revolutionize human transit but fell far short of expectations. While the public and<\/p>\n

some investors remain wary of the possible dangers and issues associated with these scooter<\/p>\n

companies, the company heads are cashing in on their big ideas. Following the business models<\/p>\n

of former startups like Uber, which is now worth $62 billion dollars, these CEOs aim to do the<\/p>\n

same with each company. Providing set \u0093rules\u0094 and regulations to give their product a sense of<\/p>\n

safety during use, the main goal, in the end, is money.<\/p>\n

While these scooters have very quickly developed a dark reputation, when operated<\/p>\n

properly, they have proven to be very useful and economically attainable for nearly anyone in<\/p>\n

need of a quick and affordable way to commute short distances. The original intention for the<\/p>\n

product was to eliminate the last mile of one\u0092s commute to work. After taking another form of<\/p>\n

transportation whether it be a personal vehicle or public transport of any sort, the scooters serve<\/p>\n

their intended purpose in getting each individual from drop off to check-in, as quickly as<\/p>\n

possible.<\/h2>\n

The introduction of the electric scooter as a common mode of public transportation brings<\/p>\n

many changes to the way society is organized as well as operated. By bypassing the use of<\/p>\n

employees, Bird has opened new doors in the minds of entrepreneurs everywhere. However, this<\/p>\n

might prove dangerous if the \u0093hired\u0094 workers are not subject to testing and background checks,<\/p>\n

8<\/p>\n

like any other job would do. The scooters are effectively changing how individuals commute as a<\/p>\n

whole. \u0093With the download of an app, the snap of a QR code, and a few quick pushes to get<\/p>\n

rolling, the scooters can zoom up to 15 mph to any destination of your choice\u0094 (Skahill). Now<\/p>\n

rather than walking your last mile to work, an appointment, or even shopping, these scooters<\/p>\n

offer a budget efficient and fast alternative to using one’s own two legs.<\/p>\n

In a world of endless movement, primarily dominated by cars, it is imperative that these<\/p>\n

companies consider the necessary steps in order to implement the electric scooter into society<\/p>\n

providing safe and quick transportation. Through new ideas and innovations, the public<\/p>\n

transportation industry has experienced many changes. Providing citizens with easily accessible<\/p>\n

and cost-effective means of transportation. Despite the positive changes in the modes of<\/p>\n

transportation that have been created with Bird scooters, there are many underlying negative<\/p>\n

personal and public safety issues associated with these changes. As these technologies become<\/p>\n

more and more accessible for all, innovators and lawmakers alike aim to implement a set list of<\/p>\n

laws in order to control the safety of the user and the passerby.<\/p>\n

9<\/p>\n

Works Cited<\/h2>\n

Abcarian, Robin. \u0093Bird scooters \u2013 so much fun, so damn dangerous.\u0094 ?Los Angeles Times, ?LA<\/p>\n

Times, 6 Jul. 2018,<\/h2>\n

Accessed 10 Nov. 2018.<\/h3>\n

Bird. \u0093Safety first.\u0094 ?Bird ?, Bird, 2018, Accessed 10 Nov. 2018<\/p>\n

Krotova, Elena. \u0093Transportation in the United States \u2013 A Brief History.\u0094 ?Corsia, ? Corsia<\/p>\n

Logistics,<\/h2>\n

Accessed, 10<\/p>\n

Nov. 2018.<\/h2>\n

Levy, Ari. \u0093Investors explain why they’re racing to get into scooter companies like Lime and<\/p>\n

Bird, driving valuations into the billions.\u0094 ?Tech ?, CNBC, 14 Jun. 2018,<\/p>\n

ve.html. Accessed 10 Nov. 2018.<\/h3>\n

Marshall, Arian. \u0093Not Just Tech Bros: E-Scooter Fans Are Surprisingly Diverse.\u0094 ?Wired, ?Wired,<\/p>\n

24 Jul. 2018,<\/p>\n

Skahill, Madi. \u0093Breaking down the benefits of Bird scooters.\u0094 ?VOX, ?VOX Magazine, 1 Sep.<\/p>\n

2018,<\/p>\n

8-8e54-13d11452c45d.html. Accessed, 10 Nov. 2018.<\/p>\n

10<\/p>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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