In the history of the civilization, “wheels” have been put to powerful and functional use. Their importance in transportation, industry, farming, the Industrial Revolution and throughout the development of the modern world cannot be understated. But, what happens when the wheel is a useless hazard and an annoying eyesore to the beauty of the community. Trains stay on the track, planes, likewise, on the runway, and cars for the most part on the road. But, e-scooters—they are everywhere. Thus, the 4-1 decision by the Miami City Commission on Nov. 18, finding that the risk and disadvantages of a pilot e-scooter program was not worth the liability exposure, annoyance and inconvenience to the community-at-large.

Industry moguls, such as Uber, and other owners of cutely named apps, like Bird and Lyft, saw city lease opportunities as an economic boom. Quite to the contrary, the $2.4 million generated in the “pilot program” could not even touch the liability exposure of a single potential serious injury or death by a wayward “Bird” that, in reality, flew wherever it wanted. The pilot program is over—thank goodness!