A disability advocate is taking on the city of Minneapolis and two popular e-scooter companies, Lime and Bird. Noah J. McCourt has brought a lawsuit against the city and e-scooter companies, seeking to bring change and protect people with disabilities traversing the city.
The 25-year-old, who lives with autism and developmental coordination disorder, is dedicated to advocating for people with disabilities in court in the state of Minnesota. In this instance, McCourt is seeking to remind the government that sidewalks belong to people with disabilities just as much as everybody else.
In the suit, he calls out both Lime and Bird, as well the city of Minneapolis, for failing to maintain the accessibility of the city’s public sidewalks, curb ramps and cross walkways. McCourt also dismissed any inclinations that the lawsuit is a money grab. He insists that it is all about making necessary changes and finding a proper solution to the current problems.
WCCO in Minneapolis said it reached out to all parties and did not receive a response from the city or Bird.
“While we can’t comment on active litigation, Lime is committed to finding a solution that works for everyone,” a company spokesperson said in a statement to WCCO. “Dockless micromobility significantly improves the quality of life for millions of people around the world, but as we run into challenges, the onus is on us to innovate and educate. That’s why we’ve engaged disability advocates and continue to educate riders and the community about proper riding and parking etiquette to ensure scooters are parked in an orderly, respectful way.
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