Charlotte police pulled over two men riding a couch down a city street, and the sofa appeared to run on a pair of shared Lime electric scooters. It's a funny story, and it also shows how far people will stretch cheap rental micromobility.
Officers from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department spotted the rig on South Tryon Street, according to a department post that Electrek picked up. WFAE puts the stop on Friday, Sept. 25, and the department's social media post followed on Oct. 1. The department said it had never seen anything like it, and it described what the officers found as "an actual couch". We have not independently confirmed the details with the department, and the post itself is not something we could open, so the account rests on Electrek and local Charlotte outlets that reported on it.
What the photo shows
In the photo police shared, a full-size sofa sits across two Lime shared scooters. The sources don't explain how the scooters were fastened together or how the riders steered. Still, the pair got far enough down the road to attract an officer's attention, so they had some system that worked, at least for a while.
Police: creative, but think safety
The tone from the department was more amused than angry. Police said they appreciated the creativity, then reminded everyone to put safety first no matter what they're "driving," a word they used very loosely. They also suggested that mobile furniture displays are best left to IKEA. WSOC reported that police also raised a concern that the sight could distract other drivers.
What happened next is unknown. The post doesn't say whether either man was cited or arrested, and police didn't name them. We have not been able to establish which traffic or equipment rules a rig like this could trigger, so we won't guess. We also found no comment from Lime, so we can't say whether the company knew its scooters had been put to this use.
Shared scooters are generally meant for one standing rider, not a sofa and a passenger. This looks like a one-off stunt, not a trend. Watch for any follow-up from Charlotte police on charges, or a word from Lime. For now, the department's own message is the one on record: put safety first, whatever you happen to be "driving".
Sources
Reported by the WattsUpNext desk from the sources linked below. Spot an error? Tell us at corrections@wattsupnext.com.
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