By Holly Carr, Staff Writer

University of Mary Hardin-Baylor students walk to class from early mornings to late evenings. With the 340-acre campus, some students have taken a liking to using electric scooters as a faster form of transport.
However, many students on campus have different thoughts about students using scooters. “It’s like they know when you want to be doing something, they always have a mission to ruin your life,” Junior Annie Hammer said.
With students this year being vocal about their distaste for scooter riders, many students have debated whether or not they should be banned. This topic is not only exclusive to UMHB, as many universities handle this problem differently, such as Columbia University banning them due to the outcry.
The conversation does not stop at the sidewalks, as students are concerned about scooterists pulling out in front of moving cars. Freshman Britley Albrecht said, “I was driving and crossed a crosswalk, out of nowhere, a dude hit the back of my car with his scooter. I now have a scratch on the right back side of my car because he wasn’t paying attention.”
Scooterists, however, defend their use on campus because they can benefit students both on and off campus by making travel quicker. Scooters also have a lower carbon footprint which makes them an ecofriendly option compared to cars. Along with this, skateboards and bikes are used by some students. However, the number of people who ride scooters compared to other forms of transportation may be a reason why scooters are the main topic of discussions.
While scooters are a convenient way of getting around campus, students should prioritize the safety of themselves and others while traveling. As freshman Cade King said, “treat it like you’re driving, have self-awareness and don’t blame other people.”