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AIBU?

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Original poster

E scooters are illegal? - right!!

114 replies

jacspatoutthecat · 16/04/2021 18:26

So if they are illegal why do so many older kids teens have them. I have a 15 and 14 yr old and all their friends have them. They are everywhere round here, and my kids are desperate for one. AIBU to say no??? Parents buying these scooters are breaking the law!!!

OP posts:
FireflyRainbow · 17/04/2021 00:26

Can rent them out here they are parked everywhere

masterofthechef · 16/04/2021 23:33

I know there is a speed issue but I fail to see the difference between these and other modes of transport, I have been knocked down twice, once by a guy on a skateboard and also by a deliveroo person on an electric bike -of which there are now loads.
Also a lot of bmx bikes ridden near here, and most don't have brakes or lights which is also illegal. Looks like being lined up as apotential cash cow as these increase in popularity.

elephantoverthehill · 16/04/2021 23:18

OK, I will play the thick card, because I don't understand how these scooters charge up. Can anyone explain it please?

getyourfreakon · 16/04/2021 23:18

There is a scheme in place for hiring them round here. But it seems there's a blind eye for owning them. The teenagers in my area are out of control (dirt bikes, stabbings etc) and this is just another part of that with the police force being so overstretched.

Macncheeseballs · 16/04/2021 23:17

Ride em!

Appin · 16/04/2021 23:16

We have two of these in our house, just sitting doing nothing. A relative bought them for our children, who are 9 and 11. The 11 year old has had a shot, before we realised it was illegal! The 9 year old is, understandably, terrified of the stupid thing.

So they're just taking up space at the moment. A monumental waste of money.

Macncheeseballs · 16/04/2021 23:15

I see plenty of adults on them around where I live. Needing a licence to drive doesn't stop cars being the biggest cause of road death.

EastWestWhosBest · 16/04/2021 23:10

@Macncheeseballs

I think they're mainly a positive thing, cars are a far greater menace
But cars are licensed and driven by people who have had to pass a test. Around here escooters are just ridden by 14 year olds either on the pavement causing problems for pedestrians or on the road potentially getting themselves killed. Which is what will happen. Before the end of the year I predict a child will did on one of these and suddenly all the parents who let their kids tear about on them will be up in arms and take them away like it’s someone else’s fault.
LieLikeALoungeroomLizard · 16/04/2021 23:07

I think they are far better for the planet,nwhich we really do need to start taking care of
But they should gave to stick to cycle paths
And the hire ones djoukd have to be placed in designated parking areas not just dumped on paths blocking buggy and prams etc

Macncheeseballs · 16/04/2021 23:03

And break far more laws

Macncheeseballs · 16/04/2021 23:01

I think they're mainly a positive thing, cars are a far greater menace

TheFlis12345 · 16/04/2021 22:41

@MrsAvocet

Or an electric bike.....which goes faster Not really. Both Ebikes and the legal E scooters in the trial areas are limited to 250W and assistance is only provided up to a maximum sperd of 25 kph (15.5mph). You can, of course, ride an Ebike faster than 25kph but then it's just like a regular bike, there's no electrical assistance. And a 250W scooter is arguably more dangerous than 250W bike because its lower mass will mean it has greater acceleration.
Lower mass = Greater acceleration but also faster deceleration / breaking (spoken as a person who has been knocked over by a regular bike on pedestrian crossings more than once).
Littlecaf · 16/04/2021 22:38

Today I was driving along a normal central town type A road, doing about 20ish in traffic and from my left a man, dressed in black on a black scooter shot out from a side road, crossed the corner of the pavement and proceeded to ride along side me on the road for about 10 metres or so before he went back on the pavement. He didn’t stop at the junction with the main road that I was on, didn’t look back, didn’t signal, wasn’t readily visible - if I’d been a few seconds earlier or a metre to the left, I’d have hit him. It gave me a real fright.

CuriousSeal · 16/04/2021 21:59

Ergh. They're an absolute pain. I hope the Police do crackdown on the issue.

moochingtothepub · 16/04/2021 21:52

The police around here have been convesgating him

MrsAvocet · 16/04/2021 21:40

Or an electric bike.....which goes faster
Not really. Both Ebikes and the legal E scooters in the trial areas are limited to 250W and assistance is only provided up to a maximum sperd of 25 kph (15.5mph). You can, of course, ride an Ebike faster than 25kph but then it's just like a regular bike, there's no electrical assistance.
And a 250W scooter is arguably more dangerous than 250W bike because its lower mass will mean it has greater acceleration.

Passthewinebottle · 16/04/2021 21:28

My area has a new rental scheme. It clearly states they are to be used on roads only. Illegal on pavements. Local teens (clearly rented by parents as you need a driving licence!) don't give a shit though. Not all to be fair, but some are using them on pavements.

megletthesecond · 16/04/2021 20:36

My personal "favourite" is watching teens whizz round roundabouts on them wearing headphones and no helmet 🙈.

TheFlis12345 · 16/04/2021 20:26

@Darkstar4855

well no it's actually more like riding a 50cc moped on the pavement without insurance or a licence - which you need

^^ this. People have been done for drink driving on them and you can get points on your licence as well as a fine if you’re caught using them on public roads.

Or an electric bike..... which goes faster and is far heavier than a scooter so is more likely to cause injury, yet is perfectly legal.
userxx · 16/04/2021 20:09

Why do people ride them on roads, it's so fringing dangerous. I almost knocked a las of his when he cut me up. No helmet or anything, I'd could have killed him 🙈

Happycat1212 · 16/04/2021 20:07

I’m also in SE London so I wonder if it’s the same school as pp as our school has sent out emails telling parents not to use the for the school run as so many people have been picking their kids up on them! One man picked his reception age child stuck him at the front, no helmet no safety gear nothing then had him hold on to the front handles whilst he zoomed off down the hill, child was around 4. Please tell me they will be for the road only if they become legal? Hate to think of them all zooming along the pavement and having to jump out the way

PegPeople · 16/04/2021 20:01

@Jubaju

PegPeople Presume it’s do with insurance and driving licences. They are mostly ridden around MK and surrounds by youngsters, multiples on one scooter and just abandoned everywhere 🤷🏼‍♀️
Im glad I'm not the only one frustrated by them being abandoned carelessly everywhere.

There is however absolutely no way everyone around here renting the trial scheme ones has a licence so surely they wouldn't be covered by any insurnace the company might have?

murbblurb · 16/04/2021 19:59

Pavements are for feet, pushchairs and wheelchairs, nothing else. Not even kids on scooters, certainly not e scooters. And e scooters cant be used on roads. So if you buy one, you are a bit of a dickhead.

Jubaju · 16/04/2021 19:58

PegPeople
Presume it’s do with insurance and driving licences. They are mostly ridden around MK and surrounds by youngsters, multiples on one scooter and just abandoned everywhere 🤷🏼‍♀️

Darkstar4855 · 16/04/2021 19:56

well no it's actually more like riding a 50cc moped on the pavement without insurance or a licence - which you need

^^ this. People have been done for drink driving on them and you can get points on your licence as well as a fine if you’re caught using them on public roads.