MEMPHIS, Tenn. (localmemphis.com) — Scooting here and there like ants at a picnic. Dancing through the downtown with names like Bird and Lime. Scooters have definitely changed the feel of downtown Memphis, especially during the noon hours.
Riders, so in their own scooter zone, forget who they share the cobblestones with.
“The trolleys have been back for almost a year now,” says Memphis Area Transit Authority Trolley Safety Chief Mark Young, “And with the weather getting nicer, more and more folks are on the mall here. Its challenging for our operators. They’re number one biggest concern is pedestrians.”
That would make sense. Former Mayor Willie Herenton once said turning Main street into a car-free pedestrian mall was the biggest mistake he ever made as mayor.
Although with the activity happening now, he might feel differently.
People walk on Main Street as though they own Main Street. They do, actually. That can be a problem
“Distracted pedestrians,” Young says, “Not paying attention, texting and walking, or worst of all, wearing earbuds, so they can’t hear the 45,000-pound trolley coming up on them.”
The trolleys are the behemoths of public transportation. They can make mincemeat out of scooters.
“It can be very, very dangerous,” Young says, “If you’re on the tracks. Those wheels can get stuck in the tracks and you can potentially fall right in front of a trolley. That would ruin your entire day.”
Last year there was a very minor bump up between a trolley and one of those bicycle-peddle bars. Nothing serious, but it’s an example of what can happen.
By the way, April 30th will mark the one-year anniversary since the trolleys returned to Main Street service.