Bought DS an electric scooter without realised they're illegal.

[AccioWomensRights]

It's his birthday tomorrow.

His dad lives about 4 miles away and he scooters there WITH his dad on a Friday and home again on Sunday.

He's a very young 14 (tomorrow) and doesn't really go anywhere without a parent.

He asked if he could get an electric scooter so he can ride that going to his dads, his younger siblings use their scooters and the journeys never unsupervised by an adult (I would have worried about it getting stolen so wouldn't allow him out on it alone. We live in a shitty area)

I look on several websites and bought him a £350 scooter.

It's his ONLY gift as it's so expensive, apart from a helmet.

I was scrolling through the news yesterday and saw a 13 year old boy with illnesses got his taken off him.

Read up a bit more and see they're illegal.

I thought they were just like e-bikes :(

I'm gutted. I've spent all my money on something he can't use

It's been opened and assembled now to charge for tomorrow so I doubt I can return it. And even if I could he won't have a present tomorrow!

Argh :(

I'm sad as he's not some little Road man who would use it for nefarious purposes, he just wanted it to ride alongside his dad.

I bought it from maplin and there was no lathing to say its not road/pavement legal and now they've all been removed from their website.

*nothing

Who did you buy it from? If they do not make it clear about the legal rules before you bought it then you may be able to return it as 'not fit for purpose' under your statutory consumer rights. Trading standards might be able to help. Of course this depends where you bought it from.

Ah that sucks OP :( Can you try and sell it? Your DS is old enough to understand, just reassure him he will get another present as soon as you are able to.

Ah just read your update. If they have removed it from the website then it could be they have been told not to sell them. This could help you in getting your money back.

It is definitely worth asking Maplin, nothing to lose after all :)

Your DS is old enough to understand that he might have to wait a while for his present. You can try getting your money back, but it was probably your responsibility to check where you could use it. Worth a try though.

I suspect that in a couple of weeks the rules about electric scooters will magically change. BJ desperate to get people back to work but without using cars, many people reluctant to use public transport or walk or bike, so voila! Tweak the rules and electric scooters will be coming to a pavement near you.

Do you think viques?

I honestly didn't even think for a second it would be an issue

I can't go on the Maplin page to check the wording as they're removed.

But I read all the specifications to check weight allowance, speed, charge time etc so if I said something about not being road legal I would have seen surely?!

They are pushing through laws to legalise them, it won’t be long.

They are talking about legalising them
But only in very limited capacities. They are saying you may be able to rent them in certain restricted areas but private scooters will still be illegal to use on public roads/footpaths etc
That’s so annoying. Would a hover board work instead? Not sure if they are illegal too on public paths though having said that ...

I don't know anything about the rules changing, but its been widely in the news about them being illegal for months. More and more people seems to be using them, on pavement and on the street, and personally they are a nightmare! Make sure you advise him about using it responsibly, but currently, that is only on private land.

They walk on a bike path to get home. A lot of cyclists and not a lot of people really. I didn't think it would be an issue.I probably wouldn't want him jetting around town on it but he's not that kind of boy at all. It was literally for the journey to his dad's.

My lad uses one and has literally never been stopped.

Just give it to him.

They're only legal to use on private land, but I highly doubt he will be stopped. I see adults using them around here all the time. They're a nightmare to meet on pavements!

Why cant his continue to use his regular scooter?

Eloura- um- you may have missed the point of the post 🤔

The OP bought the electric scooter to make the journey easier, without realising they are (as yet) illegal on public roads and pavements.

She said nothing about a manual scooter not being available!

Eloura he can. But it would be a waste of £350 wouldn't it?

Plus it was an upgrade for his birthday.
It's like saying why buy your son a PS4 for his birthday if he has a PS1?