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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:
ghostyslovesheets · 16/04/2021 18:38

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

TheFlis12345 · 16/04/2021 18:38

The laws on this are ridiculous. A kid who has never used an electric scooter can legally hire one, ride it like a loon with no practise, no helmet and no knowledge of the Highway Code. As a very sensible 40 year old woman who has had a drivers license for 23 years, wears a helmet, keeps it in low speed mode at all times, and is considerate to pedestrians etc, I am breaking the law.

Thankfully London police are largely sensible and the only reaction I got commuting on mine was a ‘morning’ as I passed them.

Bramblespoint · 16/04/2021 18:37

Local police force recently posted this on social media so maybe they are going to start enforcing?

E scooters are illegal? - right!!
Original poster
jacspatoutthecat · 16/04/2021 18:36

Does definitely seem double standards. Privately bought ones are illegal to ride on pavements- but it is ok if part of an organised rental scheme. I just feel if my allow my kids to follow the crowd then they are breaking the law and this should not be encoraged!

OP posts:
Ponoka7 · 16/04/2021 18:35

"They used to be illegal to use but pretty sure they were legalised to use on pavement during first lockdown"

No it's still illegal to use a privately owned or be on the pavement. The Council own or lease the ones for hire, so they are legal to ride on any council owned land (the pavement).

19lottie82 · 16/04/2021 18:34

PS I expect it’s something to do with the rental companies provide adequate insurance?

19lottie82 · 16/04/2021 18:34

Escooters aren’t illegal, but it is illegal to ride privately owned scooters public pavements or roads. I have yet to see this being enforced though.

Troyhelena as far as I’m aware it’s legal to rent them for use on public roads through authorised channels.

brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr · 16/04/2021 18:32

It’s a really daft thing at the moment. Companies are allowed to rent them in certain cities for trial running them. But private owners are officially not allowed to use them on public land. I ride an electric skateboard and it’s honestly the best fun and safer than a regular skateboard (as it has effective brakes) but it’s technically illegal to use on public roads. I still do though, not on pavements though unless I’m with the kids on their (unpowered) scooters and we’re going inevitably slowly in that case.

JesusInTheCabbageVan · 16/04/2021 18:31

I have no idea, but I bloody hate them! Every time I walk the dog, I'm passed by anything between 3 and 10 of the things. Virtually silent, so often they whizz past inches away with no warning and scare the crap out of me. I feel like such an old fogey, but I keep thinking... it wouldn't kill you to walk, you lazy bugger!

CheshireCats · 16/04/2021 18:31

It is illegal to own one privately. It is only legal for rental companies to rent them out.

starpatch · 16/04/2021 18:31

They used to be illegal to use but pretty sure they were legalised to use on pavement during first lockdown. They said it would help people get back to work.

vodkaredbullgirl · 16/04/2021 18:30

They are rented out where I live, dotted all over the place.

RoseAndRose · 16/04/2021 18:29

It's not llegal to own one.

Just illegal to ride them other than on private land with landowner's permission.

Something that is more in the breach than in the observance right now

Troyhelena · 16/04/2021 18:28

Eh? Illegal?
We have a local council scheme where I live where you can rent them out so how can they be illegal?