[hobbyjogger]

The scooters definitely aren't "ruining Austin" but they're not "saving" it from transportation woes either. The percentage of drivers who live close enough to downtown to hop on a scooter instead of taking car is pretty small.

For example, only 4% of Austin commuters live within 2 miles of their workplace [0]. Commuters in Westlake and P-Ville, etc. are definitely NOT trading in their cars to get on a scooter (if you could even find one) and then riding it down the highway for 30 minutes. Especially in 100 degree heat.

[0] http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:8eBZN5u...

[woolvalley]

You don't understand marginal improvements and how they ramp up?

[hobbyjogger]

(marginally) improving traffic (a bit) ≠ saving us from our transportation woes

Austin still has a long, long way to go.

[gaahrdner]

Well sure, but that's why I prefaced with "downtown." The five-county Greater Austin metro area has its own transportation issues that need solving as well, like much of the country.