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Comment by usaphp | Hacker News Reader

But scooters are only useful in good weather, I don’t think anyone would ride a scooter in winter in Chicago or New York. So I don’t really think they have a future of completely replacing cars throughout the year

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I think you overestimate the extent to which it matters. People tend to stay home in bad weather car or not. I wouldn't take a scooter out on plowed streets but once the storm has passed and the streets have been plowed I don't see why you couldn't use a scooter in winter.

Because of the cold wind. Snow is one thing, but the cold wind blowing at you is something people won't be comfortable facing while on a scooter.

But yeah, 40F-60F's is completely okay for a shorter scooter rides I guess.

I've gone for runs in -30 weather, its not that bad if you cover up your skin.

40-60F is short sleeve/shorts weather around here for me. Around freezing is when it starts getting fun to run.

Yes I'm an abberation but I didn't start out this way.

You do realize that 99% of people feel cold in 40F. Think about the majority of population. Most of them don’t run and just want to do their business by using scooter

> You do realize that 99% of people feel cold in 40F.

Yes, I addressed that in my last sentence. You presume I don't feel the cold, I do, I've just learnt how to tolerate it. Buddhist monks can dry wet towels in -40 weather. The human body is rather more tolerant of cold than you might think.

Also, source on 99%?

> But yeah, 40F-60F's is completely okay for a shorter scooter rides I guess

It’s not for a majority of people

It’s -24f on Mount Everest today.

It’s not about the snow, it’s about cold wind blowing your nose away

As someone who has tried riding electric scooters on a plowed street --it's like walking on an ice rink. You can do it, wouldn't advise it.

Few days ago I've been driving scooter in very light rain and front wheel was slipping on acceleration. No way of safe ride during winter.

While I assume the usage declines during winter but I see people still riding bikes, scooters, those electric one wheel things, skateboards, electric skateboards in Chicago during winter.

There always are outliers but we were taking about replacing cars here, you have to have more people like that to replace cars

For a long commute, no. But as a New Yorker, if I have the choice between walking four avenues in the winter, or taking an electric scooter those four avenues? Pretty sure the scooter will win every time. I mean, if you're outside regardless...

I wonder what people did before cars became ubiquitous.

They used horses, generally.

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