Scooter use is rising in large cities. So are trips to the emergency room.

In Santa Monica, Calif. — where one of the biggest electric-scooter companies is based — the city’s fire department has responded to 34 serious accidents involving the devices this summer.  WaPo

I do not like to take the bus or walk so very far,

 my work place has no parking space for my own little car.

And so I find that scooters are a fast and easy ride;

the breeze whips through my thinning hair as through the streets I glide.

It brings back childhood memories of happy wheeling trips;

when a folding push scooter brought smiles unto my lips.

and if today it happens that pedestrians I clip,

and cause them to collapse in pain or do a full back flip,

I don't think it is reason for them to begin a scene --

after all, my scooting helps to keep the city clean.

I wish there were more bike paths so I wouldn't knock 'em down;

but who needs road construction in the summer here in town?

As for wearing helmets, there's no law that says I must;

so in my navigation skills I place all of my trust.

A pratfall is not in the cards for drivers smart as me;

I barrel down the boulevard, in attitude carefree . . .

But when the brakes did fail me and I crashed into a wall

I found my joy in scooting smothered with a painful pall.

The doctors say I'm better now, although I must take care

as I cross the curbside in my motorized wheelchair.