Owner of Portland Thorns and Timbers Soccer Teams Tweets at the Mayor to Bring E-Scooters Back

“I know it was a trial” Merritt Paulson tweeted, “and [there are] some strong counter views but my vote is bring em back Ted Wheeler.”

(Justin Katigbak)

By Elise Herron

The e-scooters may be gone, but hot takes live on.

Merritt Paulson, owner of the Portland Thorns and Timbers soccer teams, today tweeted at Mayor Ted Wheeler to bring the e-scooters back.

"I miss the scooters!" Paulson wrote. "I know it was a trial and [there were] some strong counter views but my vote is bring em back Ted Wheeler."

Paulson adds that Thorns players were avid e-scooter users, but that he did sometimes worry about players getting hurt.

"But," he wrote, "[there are] plenty of ways to get hurt. Can't blame availability."

The Thorns were part of a trend of Portland athletes enjoying scooters. This summer, several Portland Trail Blazers players posted on Instagram about going for scooter rides.

Portland's four month long e-scooter pilot program ended Nov. 20. Dylan Rivera, a Portland Bureau of Transportation spokesman, says the agency is reviewing data and preparing to survey Portlanders about long-term scooter viability.

Related: Portland's E-Scooter Pilot Program Ends Tuesday. What Happens Now?

One scooter operator, Bird, has started a campaign to "bring Bird back to Portland," and is asking residents to email their tales of scooter love to Mayor Wheeler and City Commissioners.

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