2 hurt when scooter hits pedestrian on UNL campus; students say scooters are safety concern

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Two people were taken to a hospital Friday after a crash on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s campus.

Around 12:20 p.m., first responders were called to the area of 14th and R streets — just outside the student union — for a multi-injury crash.

According to the Lincoln Police Department, someone riding an electric scooter crashed into a pedestrian.

Both people involved in the crash were taken to a hospital. Their condition is unknown.

Students said when speed meets foot traffic, things can go wrong.

“If I do get into a close one, it’s by the scooters,” freshman Max Howell said. “They don’t really follow the rules of the road, and they flip through. Honestly, they go pretty fast on those things.”

While crashes like Friday’s don’t happen on the regular, students said they are not surprised.

“One time, I was riding one of these scooters, and I fell off, but it wasn’t too bad,” freshman Nolan Fitzpatrick said. “I about hit a few guys riding around on the scooters, driving around on the scooters. They don’t really stop at the stop signs ever.”

Under UNL policy, electric scooters are not allowed to block sidewalks and must remain off sidewalks.

Both pedestrians and riders are required to obey campus signage.

But some students said scooter riders just don’t follow the rules and also don’t use the bell to alert pedestrians.

“Dude, there’s no reason to be going like 50, like, through the middle of campus,” Howell said. “I don’t know how fast they be going, but they are flooring it.”

Both students said they actually feel safer around cars than scooters on campus.

“Sometimes they kind of scare me, you know,” Fitzpatrick said. “Just flying right by me. They go pretty fast. You know, it freaks me out sometimes.”