E-scooters

[DdraigGoch]

Having seen the way that people were riding the things in other parts of the country, I knew that it was only a matter of time before someone was seriously hurt. AIBU to think that they should be better regulated?
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-56724347

These things are horrific. My son had an accident while riding one last year (not under my watch I add). He wasn't wearing a helmet, only a tshirt and shorts and is now physically disabled for life and in constant pain.
I think they should all be scrapped!

Just visiting an area of the country where they are having a trial. So far they are exclusively ridden by young men and on pavements, never on the road, on a stretch of path where before they would probably have walked or cycled. They ring the bell if you are in the way and you have to get out of the way fast. What is the government thinking?

To be fair there is a place for them. But it needs to be a dedicated, smooth track where pedestrians aren't allowed.

Apparently Nottingham Police did have a recent crackdown.

@grandiflora

Just visiting an area of the country where they are having a trial. So far they are exclusively ridden by young men and on pavements, never on the road, on a stretch of path where before they would probably have walked or cycled. They ring the bell if you are in the way and you have to get out of the way fast. What is the government thinking?

Cycling on the path isn't legal either.

They are a complete menace. I'd like to see the police in our area taking some action. It seems about 1 in 5 teenagers has one round here, plus a few pre teens. I have no idea what the parents are thinking enabling their use, I know I would never have purchased one for either of my children.

None of the teenagers riding them round here are old enough to have a driving licence. And we're not in a trial area. I see them ridden on pavements, down the middle of the street, in and out of traffic...

They're completely uninsured too (unless in a trial area and being ridden by someone with a licence) so if one hits your car you can kiss goodbye to your no claims.

What concerns me is when I've seen this discussed on social media, the prevailing opinion from other parents seems to be along the 'kids will be kids/ let them have fun/ scooters are harmless' lines, which is such a facile response and completely ignores all the dangers.

Saw a woman on a scooter with a toddler as a passenger. No helmet for adult or child. Totally irresponsible.

My city must be trialling them too - I did wonder why they were available as I thought they were illegal too. I’ve only seen young (20ish) men using them.

My DC secondary school has sent out a notice reminding parents that pupils shouldn’t be using them and that they’re definitely not allowed in school grounds.

I was run over a few months ago on the pavement buy one of these e scooters, left me o unable to weight bear. The lad that crashed into me lost control by a busy school he was only about 10. These things are lethal.

*by

Yes they should be better regulated. But no, they shouldn't be illegal. They're economical, green, convenient, and overall not an inherent danger.

This! I'm in a city that's currently trialing them and they're great as long as they're used properly. To all the people moaning about unregulated ones/kids riding them ect these things are all illegal and absolutely need to be clamped down on. But the regulated ones where you have to scan your license to be able to use them are fantastic. Many people I know use them for speeding up a journey which is just a little to far to just walk it (would take a fair chunk of time) but equally feels too stupidly short to drive. Yes there needs to be more education about where you can ride them/not riding drunk/having a license and being insured. But this will come in as they're properly introduced and regulated. You still get the odd idiot who drives/cycles in the road drunk/uninsured but we as a society all look down on them and it's dealt with appropriately, these need to go the same way. The cats out of the box now, it's not going back in, the way forwards is careful regulation and education.

I visited Liverpool last weekend, I was impressed by the large pedestrianised city centre but the scooters and bikes coming at you from all directions did not make it an enjoyable experience.

I've ridden one. Had a training session before I did. No requirement for me to wear a helmet but my DD did have to. She had to share with me as not old enough to ride on her own. Sharing is allowed up to the weight limit. Perfect for a quick school drop off/pick up!

I'm looking forward to them becoming legal and more regulated. My driving licence covers my use of them as I passed in 1996 and I have category Q on my licence.

I'm also a Bikeability instructor and a qualified cycle ride leader so have had additional training with transferable skills and experience that make me a safe user of escooters.

If we had some decent cycling infrastructure escooters could share that. In fact, wherever there is infrastructure they should share.

They are a quick, easy, environmentally friendly way to travel.

Oh and escooters should have a bell or a horn to warn people of their approach.

Legislation and regulation is the way ahead. Probably should have a minimum age too. I think 14 might be a sensible minimum age.

To all the people moaning about unregulated ones/kids riding them ect[sic]
It isn't "moaning" FFS.

I live in the centre of a city in a country where you can rent them. Got to say they are really dangerous both for pedestrians and for the rider.

If you got hit by one it could do some real damage, admittedly unlikely to kill you, buy could easily break bones, and for an older person, a fall with broken leg/hip might ultimately kill them.

If we had some decent cycling infrastructure escooters could share that. In fact, wherever there is infrastructure they should share.

Fully agree but other than a few randomly placed 3 metre sets of lines in the road with a picture of a bike there is fuck all provision around here.

I work in a school and the most popular birthday present for the 10 yr olds is no longer a bike or a playstation it is an electric scooter. Over half of my class have them and the head has to stand at the end of the road policing them because otherwise they would all ride them to school. The idea of them and the way they could be used to cut carbon emissions from car is all well in good in theory but it seems to be kids and teenagers that ride them even though they are illegal for under 16's. Definitely need to be more regulated.

@DynamoKev

If we had some decent cycling infrastructure escooters could share that. In fact, wherever there is infrastructure they should share.

Fully agree but other than a few randomly placed 3 metre sets of lines in the road with a picture of a bike there is fuck all provision around here.

Time to join any campaigns in your area then! Decent cycling infrastructure benefits everyone. Pedestrians have a safer space, bikes and escooters have a safer space. Cars have a dedicated space. Cars benefit when other traffic users choose to be traffic on a bike or escooter as it takes cars off the road.

Top tip for everyone: If you have DC try and get them on a Bikeability course near you. It will give them skills for cycling, transferable skills for the escooter and the police like it as a form of very early driver training.

I get that they are really annoying and often ridden in a down right dangerous manner. But let's not forget that more pedestrians on pavements are killed/injured by car drivers than people killed/injured by bikes/scooters etc.

But I think this just goes to show that our transport system is broken. We need a safe, cohesive system that works for all users. No matter your age, vulnerability. No matter how you choose to move around your area. No matter how much money you have.

And this should go with sensible rules that are routinely enforced, again no matter which mode you use.

Plus, a prat on a scooter is going to be the same prat that walks out into the road without looking or drives aggressively around cyclists.

Oh and escooters should have a bell or a horn to warn people of their approach.

I don't want to have to dive out of the way of people on scooters though when I am walking with my kids or walking the dogs. They should only be used on roads or cycling paths.

The dangers to those who are visually impaired (and already at significant risk from electric cars) should outweigh the 'convenience' of people using them for commuting etc.

Licencing them for use at 14? Can't think of anything worse. Teenagers should have the energy to cycle for miles, an electric scooter really isn't needed.