You're walking on campus, it’s impossible not to notice the number of electric scooters. I’ve been to other colleges, and I really can’t say that this is a universal epidemic. Maybe it’s due to the number of free scooters handed out to student athletes at USC, but it is remarkable to see the sheer quantity on a campus that isn’t even half a square mile. So, since there are so many, here’s a little breakdown of the different types of scooter riders you may see around campus.

You wouldn’t believe how many times I’ve woken up just minutes before my 8:00 a.m. class. After rushing through the essentials and stepping out of my dorm, that familiar sinking feeling hits me: I’m a good 15-minute walk from class. If I try to avoid showing up sweaty, it’s more like 20 minutes. Inevitably, I find myself walking in 10 minutes late, awkwardly squeezing into the only available seat right in the middle of the room, having all these eyes staring at my sweaty self.

By: Kristen Adams ‘25

While using wheels to navigate campus can be a fun and fast mode of transportation, it is important to keep safety precautions in mind to avoid injuries and embarrassment on busy intersections. Just last week, I had a friend wipe out on her skateboard outside the Village in front of her crush, an event she has yet to emotionally recover from.

By: Antonia Le ‘22

I never thought I’d be kind of person to ride around USC on a scooter. In fact, during my first semester at USC, I walked to every class. I was a transportation purist, intent on achieving my daily 10,000 steps. Everything changed when I registered for classes for the spring semester. Against my best intentions, I found myself having a class in Taper Hall ten minutes after my class in Kaprielian Hall ended. According to Google Maps, it takes 11-13 minutes to make the trek, and that’s without anything going wrong. How was I supposed to get from KAP to THH in ten minutes? So, not wanting to be late for class every day, I decided to get a scooter. It’s one of the best decisions I’ve made since coming to USC. In fact, I believe that scooters are the best way to get around campus.