E scooters are illegal? - right!!

My local councils rent them out too. Users have to show their driving license, they can only be used on the road, they are speed limited and users have to wear a helmet.

Private owned ones can only be used on private land with permission from the land owner.

People have been killed on them and by them. Illegal on public roads/ paths unless part of a regulated scheme. I don’t think many people know private ones aren’t legal on the roads

I think it's one of things that's technically illegal, but is pretty much ignored unless you're really being an idiot and happen to get caught by the Police in that frame of mind. Sort of like riding a bicycle on the pavement, technically illegal for anyone. Guidance to Police is to ignore for children, but would be a rare day if you got pulled for it, even as a adult. Plenty of other things technically illegal, but generally ignored, daft personalised number plates for example that don't meet the correct format.

I am sure alot of people think they are legal as there are so many rental schemes in towns around the UK so perhaps this is why so many teens have them.

I think that's probably true. Although if other areas with rental trials are anything like near here I think I'd prefer people used their own. At least then they would take them home at the end of the day rather than leave them abandoned cluttering up the pavements.

Still baffled though why parents buy or allow e scooters for their kids to ride on public land if it is illegal???

Large numbers of people don't give a fuck. See also litter, speeding, texting while driving, etc

@jacspatoutthecat

They are - as said - illegal to be ridden on public roads mainly because the riders are not insured and - of course - they cannot get insurance because they are illegal to ride in public. Are you following this. Cities where they can be hired are as part of a test and those are insured.

Frankly I hope they never will be individually licensed as how on earth could the police enforce insurance without tiny licence plates?

Nothing dangerous about e-scooters, it’s just how people ride them. Which unfortunately seems to be mostly teenage boys who, let’s face it, are probably the least safety-conscious demographic out there.

www.gov.uk/guidance/e-scooter-trials-guidance-for-users

These are my pet objection: they are so dangerous, and such a distraction to motorists.

In my part of SE London, I've seen parents riding them at speed on the busy road with a child in front of them holding on to the handle bars. A man was weaving in and out of busy traffic on his e scooter, ferrying the child to school. I was so worried, I'm afraid to say I phoned the school whose uniform the child was wearing. The secretary said they'd remind parents about road safety.

. I also don't feel happy about bikes weaving in and out of cars: I'm worried about the cyclist's safety. But these scooters are travesty of all that is safe. I'd rather they were driven carefully on the pavements than owners plunge into traffic with a sense of entitlement and bravado. Those bikes with contraptions for ferrying infants are an insane choice, also, imo.

I'm glad the police will be monitoring their use.

I've seen people riding them on the 50 mile an hour country A roads around here. Not a helmet in sight either.

They are in the town centre available for hire near me. Not sure how they can be illegal.

Literally the only good thing I can say about them is that they seem to have replaced scramble bikes round our way.

Still remember the little shit who decided to screech past me doing a wheelie on a narrow footpath when I had baby DS in a sling

www.gov.uk/guidance/e-scooter-trials-guidance-for-users

I thought they were illegal. Stupid things. If there not they need to be on the road only. I’m so sick of walking my dog and seeing bikes and scooters on the pavement. I won’t and will not move for them it’s a joke now.

I've had them pass far too close on the pavement when I've been walking. And they're silent so you don't know they're there. I've had them going from the pavement on to the road right in front of me when I've been driving causing me to do an emergency stop. Not even an acknowledgement of what they'd done.

They look like fun and I understand why people use them, I think new legislation is needed to sort out where they can go. Because people don't buy them and think they'll just stay in their garden or drive.

We have the trials in our town, everyone on them appears to be under 18, aren't they meant to be used instead of a car as more environmentally friendly not a youths plaything, which is how they are being used.

Our local police force has also been talking about this on social media so maybe there is a bit of a crackdown? It was along the lines of illegal apart from on private property.

Hate them with a vengeance.
Groups of these idiots ride them around here and you have to quickly jump out of their way.
They care not a jot for anyone in their path.
Grrr...

I did not know this.... Hmmme, like others there is a sanctioned rental scheme here plus loads of kids haring about without helmets or road sense

you also need a provisional licence