How Electric Scooters can Enhance the Community Engagement of Australians

Thank goodness, the pandemic lockdowns are over. Well, you can’t be blamed if you don’t want to take the bus or train because of Covid-19 back then. Being careful relates to one’s health and survival. One can’t be too diligent or careful enough. The unseen adversary ‘lurks.’

Hence, the viability of electric scooters. Aren’t they just so good for the rider to get from point A to point B? An undeniable discovery too, is they can also help foster community relations or interactions better.

Firstly, what is meant by “making community relations or interactions better”?

For one, community relations is all about the things that you do with other people in your area — like volunteering, joining groups, going to events or letting your voice be heard.

Community relations are very important for making a person’s sense of fulfillment happen, at a healthy level.

But, what does this have to do with you, an e-scooter rider, owner or enthusiast? How can you help make your community relations and interactions better? What can you contribute, or what can you do – to make things better?

Now, this is where community engagement comes in. Community engagement refers to the process of people working collaboratively, with, and through groups of people who share a common interest or cause, an identity, within a location, and tackle issues that affect their welfare and well-being.

Slowly and surely, a realization steps in. Electric scooters are not only good for personal mobility, but they can also have positive impacts on the social life and community engagement of Australians.

Let’s see how it all makes sense:

1. As an e-scooter enthusiast yourself, you can meet other people who like e-scooters too. Sharing a common interest, you can join clubs, groups or online platforms where you can chat, share tips, go for rides and make new friends. It can be a simple gesture, where you can say hi to other riders on the road or path, and later perhaps, have a chat.

2. Other e-scooter riders can help make it easier for you to go to social and community places. Riding your e-scooters, you can agree to go to the park, cafe, library, market, festival or meeting, where you can meet new people, learn new things, have fun or help out.

3. While riding an e-scooter, you can take some time to visit friends, relatives who live nearby. The sense of freedom riding an electric scooter can egg you on to explore your neighborhood, and discover new places, ride along nice routes, visit cool spots or learn more about the history and culture of your area.

4. When you’re riding your e-scooter, it can actually give you a sense of belonging. It can make you proud of who you are and where you live. Well, doesn’t it make you feel good to be part of a growing movement that supports ‘green and active transport,’ cutting down pollution and helping improve health? There is a sense of pride knowing that your neighborhood and the city where you live are exerting efforts to provide safe and easy ways and places where e-scooters can be used.

5. Riding a ‘green’ alternative mode of transport can motivate you to get involved in things that can and will affect your life and well-being. You can share your opinions and feedback on issues like safety, rules, ways and places or new ideas for e-scooter use. Pretty soon, you’ll be joining campaigns or projects that aim to make things better for e-scooter use.

Even if e-scooters are not perfect and there may be some problems and risks that need to be fixed, like safety issues, legal constraints, or environmental impacts, using an e-scooter will depend on what you prefer, and what your needs are.

How can electric scooters advance community engagement?

Here are some practical and doable ways:

1. E-scooter owners, riders or enthusiasts can help people connect with others who share similar interests or hobbies, they can join clubs, groups or online platforms where they can exchange tips, organize rides, share experiences and make new friends.
2. The commonality of interest makes it easier for people to access social and community events and venues where people can meet new people, learn new things, have fun or contribute to a cause.

For example, e-scooters can be used to travel to local parks, cafes, libraries, markets, festivals or meetings, where people can meet new people, learn new things, have fun or contribute to a cause. E-scooters can also be used to visit friends or family who live nearby, strengthening existing relationships.

1. E-scooters can encourage people to explore their neighborhoods and discover new places, even find ways to support local businesses and organizations, such as shops, restaurants or charities, by spending money or donating time or resources.
2. The opportunity to foster a sense of belonging and identity among e-scooter users and communities is wide open, where a growing movement that promotes sustainable and active transport, helping to reduce carbon emissions and improve health is being actively endorsed.
3. Using -scooters can inspire people to get involved in advocacy and decision-making processes that affect their mobility and quality of life. For example, e-scooter users can voice their opinions and feedback on issues such as safety, regulation, infrastructure or innovation. E-scooter users can also join campaigns or initiatives that aim to improve the conditions and opportunities for e-scooter use.

True, electric scooters are not the supposed band aid that can solve all the social and community challenges that Australians face.

Nonetheless, e-scooters have the strong potential to enhance the social life and community engagement of Australians. Being part of meaningful, cause-worthy community engagements helps to build deeper, stronger, and more trusting relationships between public organizations and communities. This invariably creates a more relevant, interconnected community.

Overall, e-scooters have the potential to make one’s social life and community better by giving electric scooter riders, owners, supporters a cool, fun and green way to get around that can connect you with other people, places and causes that matter to you. That is reason enough to give you a sense of purpose, make you happier and healthier.