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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

As a disabled woman sick of being terrified on the pavement to feel happy reading about the destruction of e-scooters and e-bikes?

170 replies

pinkksugarmouse · 01/01/2026 16:33

I know some people will want me to be crucified over this. That's mumsnet. I get it. I have Rheumatoid Arthritis. The number of times I have almost been hit by one of these...I have had to walk into busy roads. I've even experienced being sworn out for daring to use the footpath.
Some cyclists and scooter users are a menace and I think they have become emboldened because of the electric vehicles.
They are dangerous, illegal and whenever I see a big piles of these monstrous pieces of s#*t being destroyed I feel relief. Anyone who buys these for children is selfish and stupid. IMHO.

So get your pitchforks out. Time to tell me what an abomination I am....its eniveitable.

OP posts:
Peonies12 · 03/01/2026 06:53

Sorry you’ve had a bad experience but I think you need to look up how many people are killed and seriously injured by drivers / cars every day. That’s the real menace that everyone seems to ignore. E-bikes are an excellent eco friendly option and the majority of cyclists are well behaved.

Redpeach · 03/01/2026 06:15

boulevardofbrokendreamss · 02/01/2026 17:58

The scooters seem to have disappeared here (S London) but the Uber Eats / Deliveroo people are on ridiculous alert electric bikes with sand tyres. They dont give a shit about anyone on the pavements or the road.

And yet they cause very few deaths and injuries

boulevardofbrokendreamss · 02/01/2026 17:58

The scooters seem to have disappeared here (S London) but the Uber Eats / Deliveroo people are on ridiculous alert electric bikes with sand tyres. They dont give a shit about anyone on the pavements or the road.

itsthetea · 02/01/2026 17:30

Given the reckless driving round here is mobility scooters I think any law changes should cover them too

Noras · 02/01/2026 17:27

I think that they ought to be insured and also have a form of licence as they are lethal. They also need a registration so police can fine them for poor driving. I think that some European counties require insurance maybe Germany

Pavementworrier · 02/01/2026 17:26

Sorry for phrasing that annoyingly for some reason please do anyway! 🤣

Pavementworrier · 02/01/2026 17:26

Can I just remind anyone in Scotland that (even though it feels like the tide is endlessly against us thanks to the way cyclists dominate) an election is coming up in May so it's well worth contacting your MSPs (list and constituency) to ask them to help.

Even the greens claim to care about vulnerable people so should be asked to put their money where their mouth is.

Noras · 02/01/2026 17:24

Pavementworrier · 02/01/2026 17:03

Deliveroo etc are bad for society and people really ought to boycott them until they're properly regulated (they're effectively a form of slave labour and facilitate people trafficking).

But also the police CAN confiscate the fucking bikes!!

Completely agree

NotAnotherScarf · 02/01/2026 17:24

120% agreement here. Plus extension dog leads! In the right place yes, busy street no.

FunnyOrca · 02/01/2026 17:23

I’m with you OP! I have no physical disability but have nearly been hit 3 or 4 times! Every time in a park (not the same park). I’m just never expecting them. Once I was with my baby and got a proper fright!

MO0N · 02/01/2026 17:21

I'm on your side OP!

GingerBeverage · 02/01/2026 17:20

TheNightingalesStarling · 02/01/2026 08:19

They aren't illegal to own. They can be used on Private property. They ate just illegal to use on public highways.

So make them illegal to own.

letrozolecycleone · 02/01/2026 17:19

pinkksugarmouse · 01/01/2026 16:46

Police can now crush them. One example is Hampshire Police who called the project perhaps unimaginatively "operation crush"

That’s disappointing I sort of love hearing the names the police come up with for various things and operation crush is far too obvious. The name should have nothing to do with what it’s actually about 😂

Redpeach · 02/01/2026 17:15

pinkksugarmouse · 01/01/2026 16:52

Oh and Dorset is another county crushing them. I'm working my way through the articles and videos with tea and biscuits. Its a pleasing sight 😌

Ooh i wish they'd do the same with cars, imagine how safe our streets would be

SurreyMumOfOne · 02/01/2026 17:12

Near here there’s a fabulous bike circuit where, for years, young kids have been able to safely learn to cycle, wobbling around amongst other similar children.
I took mine down on Boxing Day and we actually had to leave after DD was nearly hit by an electric go kart. Also hover boards with seat attachments and these electric scooters. An absolute menace.

JohnTheRevelator · 02/01/2026 17:10

Totally agree. I have rheumatoid and osteoarthritis,I'm currently waiting for a hip replacement operation. I absolutely hate these things,they are an absolute menace for people who are unable to move out of the way quickly. And of course it's always us who are in the wrong. I have had so much attitude from some of these idiots. Pavements are for PEOPLE!

ASimpleLampoon · 02/01/2026 17:08

pinkksugarmouse · 01/01/2026 16:46

Police can now crush them. One example is Hampshire Police who called the project perhaps unimaginatively "operation crush"

My DH has been involved in seizing them and says it's an enjoyable part of the job

Pavementworrier · 02/01/2026 17:03

Deliveroo etc are bad for society and people really ought to boycott them until they're properly regulated (they're effectively a form of slave labour and facilitate people trafficking).

But also the police CAN confiscate the fucking bikes!!

Badbadbunny · 02/01/2026 13:22

Newmeagain · 02/01/2026 12:51

Yes, they are a huge problem and we need proper regulation and enforcement.

We had the local police commissioner on the local radio a few weeks ago and many callers were mentioning e-scooters, e-bikes and illegally modified bikes used by food deliverers and asking why the police weren't acting. The response he gave was that the police couldn't really do anything because often the food delivery riders didn't have any ID proof with them and gave false names and addresses, so couldn't be traced subsequently for court summonses etc, so all they could do was seize the bikes which sometimes they couldn't do because they didn't have the vans/trucks available to collect them. So, often they felt they had no choice but to ignore them as the only alternative would be to arrest them (on grounds of no proof of name nor address) which they didn't have the empty cells for!!

Whammyammy · 02/01/2026 13:06

Totally agree with you op, pavements are for pedestrians, not scooters or bikes.
We have an electric dirtbike and a petrol one for the grandchildren, my husband takes them to a local dirtbike track, it's only about £10 each to ride there and always wearing protective clothing.

Sadly the chavs permit their offspring to ride on the roads or pavements without a care for others.

Newmeagain · 02/01/2026 12:51

Pigriver · 01/01/2026 22:54

I think it's time for them to be legalised but have proper rules. 16+ and only to be used on roads. Helmets and lights as standard.
I have a legal electric bike and cycle to work, on the road. It is pedal assist and limited to 15mph.
The main culprit is food delivery drivers on illegal bikes riding though the pedestrianised city centre and on pavements. Always dressed in black with face covered. Their bikes all look the same and have throttles as if you look at their feet they aren't pedalling. These need cracking down on.

Yes, they are a huge problem and we need proper regulation and enforcement.

Pavementworrier · 02/01/2026 12:41

WonderfulSmith · 01/01/2026 16:37

There is a man near me with an electric unicycle. He piles along pedestrianised areas at what must be 30 mph. I swear he purposefully passes women with inches to spare. He is an adult man, old enough to have a grey beard, twat.

Would not be hard to knock him off with a surprised swing of ones shopping bag I imagine. He ought to be more careful.

Pavementworrier · 02/01/2026 12:40

They make me so angry. I think the cyclist lobby is evil. Instead of admitting that cyclists make life worse for pedestrians they just shriek CARS KILL MORE PEOPLE.

Ok but cars don't clip me from behind on the pavement?

intrepidpanda · 02/01/2026 12:38

We should be encouraging ebikes and escooters but they should be on the road, not the pavement.

ArtTheClownIsNotAMime · 02/01/2026 12:07

pinkksugarmouse · 01/01/2026 16:46

Police can now crush them. One example is Hampshire Police who called the project perhaps unimaginatively "operation crush"

Ah, fabulous. Hopefully it will become so widespread that it becomes a real deterrent.

If only they would do the same for pedal bikes on the pavement...

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