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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
Moelwynbach · 16/04/2021 19:05

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

Tal45 · 16/04/2021 19:10

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

Diverseopinions · 16/04/2021 19:12

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.

DynamoKev · 16/04/2021 19:18

@Moelwynbach

They are in the town centre available for hire near me. Not sure how they can be illegal.
(Only) The hire ones are legal - part of a trial.

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

Thepilotlightsgoneout · 16/04/2021 19:21

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.

Thelittleweasel · 16/04/2021 19:26

@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?

Original poster
jacspatoutthecat · 16/04/2021 19:33

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

OP posts:
DynamoKev · 16/04/2021 19:38

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

PegPeople · 16/04/2021 19:41

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.

Bananarama101 · 16/04/2021 19:45

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.

Jubaju · 16/04/2021 19:45

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

PegPeople · 16/04/2021 19:48

@Jubaju

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
But surely people could still be killed or seriously hurt by the rental ones? 90% of those round here using them look under 18 and are normally on the pavement or zig zagging across the road.
fairydustandpixies · 16/04/2021 19:49

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.

ghostyslovesheets · 16/04/2021 19:49

@Bananarama101

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.
well no it's actually more like riding a 50cc moped on the pavement without insurance or a licence - which you need
Darkstar4855 · 16/04/2021 19:56

well no it's actually more like riding a 50cc moped on the pavement without insurance or a licence - which you need

^^ this. People have been done for drink driving on them and you can get points on your licence as well as a fine if you’re caught using them on public roads.

Jubaju · 16/04/2021 19:58

PegPeople
Presume it’s do with insurance and driving licences. They are mostly ridden around MK and surrounds by youngsters, multiples on one scooter and just abandoned everywhere 🤷🏼‍♀️

murbblurb · 16/04/2021 19:59

Pavements are for feet, pushchairs and wheelchairs, nothing else. Not even kids on scooters, certainly not e scooters. And e scooters cant be used on roads. So if you buy one, you are a bit of a dickhead.

PegPeople · 16/04/2021 20:01

@Jubaju

PegPeople Presume it’s do with insurance and driving licences. They are mostly ridden around MK and surrounds by youngsters, multiples on one scooter and just abandoned everywhere 🤷🏼‍♀️
Im glad I'm not the only one frustrated by them being abandoned carelessly everywhere.

There is however absolutely no way everyone around here renting the trial scheme ones has a licence so surely they wouldn't be covered by any insurnace the company might have?

Happycat1212 · 16/04/2021 20:07

I’m also in SE London so I wonder if it’s the same school as pp as our school has sent out emails telling parents not to use the for the school run as so many people have been picking their kids up on them! One man picked his reception age child stuck him at the front, no helmet no safety gear nothing then had him hold on to the front handles whilst he zoomed off down the hill, child was around 4. Please tell me they will be for the road only if they become legal? Hate to think of them all zooming along the pavement and having to jump out the way

userxx · 16/04/2021 20:09

Why do people ride them on roads, it's so fringing dangerous. I almost knocked a las of his when he cut me up. No helmet or anything, I'd could have killed him 🙈

TheFlis12345 · 16/04/2021 20:26

@Darkstar4855

well no it's actually more like riding a 50cc moped on the pavement without insurance or a licence - which you need

^^ this. People have been done for drink driving on them and you can get points on your licence as well as a fine if you’re caught using them on public roads.

Or an electric bike..... which goes faster and is far heavier than a scooter so is more likely to cause injury, yet is perfectly legal.
megletthesecond · 16/04/2021 20:36

My personal "favourite" is watching teens whizz round roundabouts on them wearing headphones and no helmet 🙈.

Passthewinebottle · 16/04/2021 21:28

My area has a new rental scheme. It clearly states they are to be used on roads only. Illegal on pavements. Local teens (clearly rented by parents as you need a driving licence!) don't give a shit though. Not all to be fair, but some are using them on pavements.

MrsAvocet · 16/04/2021 21:40

Or an electric bike.....which goes faster
Not really. Both Ebikes and the legal E scooters in the trial areas are limited to 250W and assistance is only provided up to a maximum sperd of 25 kph (15.5mph). You can, of course, ride an Ebike faster than 25kph but then it's just like a regular bike, there's no electrical assistance.
And a 250W scooter is arguably more dangerous than 250W bike because its lower mass will mean it has greater acceleration.

moochingtothepub · 16/04/2021 21:52

The police around here have been convesgating him