Motorized Scooters Will Shut Down If They Touch the Pride Mural in Spokane

As we reported, some city leaders broke down in tears during a press conference announcing that a manhunt was underway in Washington for several suspects who "desecrated" a Spokane pride mural painted on the road. Just a few hours after Spokane repainted the LGBTQ+ pride mural, three teenagers were arrested for first-degree "malicious mischief" for leaving skid marks on the mural with their rented scooters.

A local reporter was triggered to see teens back at it the next day:

A group of five to six kids just starting doing donuts and creating skid marks on the Pride Mural. Right in front of me as we’re reporting on three people getting arrested for doing the same thing last night.@KHQLocalNews pic.twitter.com/FMXGAg77fx
— Adam Schwager (@schwagerTV) June 6, 2024

If you don't have them in your city, a company called Lime rents out motorized scooters using a system where you scan a QR code with your phone. Lime condemned the use of their scooters to commit such a crime:

Lime condemns and takes action on the vandalism of the Spokane Pride mural, with scooters from the company being used to create skid marks on the mural.https://t.co/jJOCBXd5v0
— KHQ Local News (@KHQLocalNews) June 7, 2024

Further, Lime said it had put a "no-go zone" around the pride mural. They can do that?

The pride flag crosswalk in Spokane, Washington, has now been designated a "no-go zone" by Lime scooters following the arrest of multiple teens for leaving "skid marks" on the mural.

The scooters will now shut down if they are driven over the pride flag.https://t.co/wNDvgLi1f8
— ThePublica (@ThePublicaNow) June 9, 2024

The Publica reports:

“All of us at Lime condemn these vile acts in no uncertain terms,” Lime Director of Government Relations Hayden Harvey told The National Desk. “At a time when our teams at Lime are beginning pride celebrations around the globe, it is disturbing to see the hate taking place in Spokane.”
Lime has now implemented a “no-go zone” over the crosswalk, meaning scooters driven over the mural will be remotely shut down. According to the company’s website, entering a “no-go zone” will cause a Lime vehicle to “gradually come to a stop,” forcing a rider to walk their scooter until it is outside the zone.