A seemingly newfound fad at Goshen College, the motorized scooter is fast approaching the title of most-used method of transportation on campus. Electric scooters have seemed to wax and wane through the GC career of  Kevin Schultz, assistant director of Residence Life, but it was a noticeable uptick at the beginning of the fall semester.

“I think it’s been an ebb and flow over the years as far as seeing more one semester but none the other semester,” Schultz said. 

Junior social work major Isaiah Beiter said, “I think [having a scooter] is a good idea, especially when trying to get to class quicker.” 

 “As long as people are respectful and don’t drive too close to people, I think it’s fine,” Jacob Friesen, a junior history education major, said. “I’ve seen someone on a scooter fall on the ice.”

Though Beiter and Friesen were both fine with the influx of motorized scooters on campus, the reception has been somewhat mixed within the broader student body. “I was actually scared because a lot of people kept trying to run me over,” Egypt Boyd, a sophomore film production and writing major, said. 

Schultz said, “Thankfully I have not been made aware of anything concerning as far as people getting hurt or being hit.” 

Keeping students from riding the motorized scooters indoors proved to be a problem. “I have been noticing it happening but each time I’ve addressed it,” Shultz said. “I think sometimes … there’s the notion that, ‘If I can ride it, I’m safe.’” 

The issue has been inevitable throughout the history of the motorized scooters on campus, and has even prompted an email being sent out across campus from the campus safety department. “We recognize that bicycles and scooters are convenient and environmentally-friendly transportation options, and we recognize that in cold weather it may seem helpful to bring them inside for protection. However, storing them in hallways, classrooms, stairwells or other interior spaces of academic buildings creates safety hazards, obstructs emergency egress and impedes accessibility for all building occupants or visitors.” 

The email continued by clarifying that they may be stored inside personal rooms on campus, but must stay outside on the designated bike racks otherwise. “We also strongly recommend you obtain a U-lock to protect your bicycle or scooter from theft.”

This policy has been in direct conflict from the beginning of this academic year, when GC facilities posted an announcement in the Communicator on Aug. 29. “Scooters are cool to bring inside, just like skateboards,” the announcement said. It concluded by clarifying that they should be stored at the skateboard racks and should not be leaned against walls. While these posts may contradict each other, students should defer to the most recent messaging from campus safety.

With reporting by Anton Alstrom-Brookhyser