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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:
CuriousSeal · 16/04/2021 21:59

Ergh. They're an absolute pain. I hope the Police do crackdown on the issue.

Littlecaf · 16/04/2021 22:38

Today I was driving along a normal central town type A road, doing about 20ish in traffic and from my left a man, dressed in black on a black scooter shot out from a side road, crossed the corner of the pavement and proceeded to ride along side me on the road for about 10 metres or so before he went back on the pavement. He didn’t stop at the junction with the main road that I was on, didn’t look back, didn’t signal, wasn’t readily visible - if I’d been a few seconds earlier or a metre to the left, I’d have hit him. It gave me a real fright.

TheFlis12345 · 16/04/2021 22:41

@MrsAvocet

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.
Lower mass = Greater acceleration but also faster deceleration / breaking (spoken as a person who has been knocked over by a regular bike on pedestrian crossings more than once).
Macncheeseballs · 16/04/2021 23:01

I think they're mainly a positive thing, cars are a far greater menace

Macncheeseballs · 16/04/2021 23:03

And break far more laws

LieLikeALoungeroomLizard · 16/04/2021 23:07

I think they are far better for the planet,nwhich we really do need to start taking care of
But they should gave to stick to cycle paths
And the hire ones djoukd have to be placed in designated parking areas not just dumped on paths blocking buggy and prams etc

EastWestWhosBest · 16/04/2021 23:10

@Macncheeseballs

I think they're mainly a positive thing, cars are a far greater menace
But cars are licensed and driven by people who have had to pass a test. Around here escooters are just ridden by 14 year olds either on the pavement causing problems for pedestrians or on the road potentially getting themselves killed. Which is what will happen. Before the end of the year I predict a child will did on one of these and suddenly all the parents who let their kids tear about on them will be up in arms and take them away like it’s someone else’s fault.
Macncheeseballs · 16/04/2021 23:15

I see plenty of adults on them around where I live. Needing a licence to drive doesn't stop cars being the biggest cause of road death.

Appin · 16/04/2021 23:16

We have two of these in our house, just sitting doing nothing. A relative bought them for our children, who are 9 and 11. The 11 year old has had a shot, before we realised it was illegal! The 9 year old is, understandably, terrified of the stupid thing.

So they're just taking up space at the moment. A monumental waste of money.

Macncheeseballs · 16/04/2021 23:17

Ride em!

elephantoverthehill · 16/04/2021 23:18

OK, I will play the thick card, because I don't understand how these scooters charge up. Can anyone explain it please?

getyourfreakon · 16/04/2021 23:18

There is a scheme in place for hiring them round here. But it seems there's a blind eye for owning them. The teenagers in my area are out of control (dirt bikes, stabbings etc) and this is just another part of that with the police force being so overstretched.

masterofthechef · 16/04/2021 23:33

I know there is a speed issue but I fail to see the difference between these and other modes of transport, I have been knocked down twice, once by a guy on a skateboard and also by a deliveroo person on an electric bike -of which there are now loads.
Also a lot of bmx bikes ridden near here, and most don't have brakes or lights which is also illegal. Looks like being lined up as apotential cash cow as these increase in popularity.

FireflyRainbow · 17/04/2021 00:26

Can rent them out here they are parked everywhere

PegPeople · 17/04/2021 06:25

@elephantoverthehill

OK, I will play the thick card, because I don't understand how these scooters charge up. Can anyone explain it please?
That's a great question. Honestly the only answer I can think of is that someone from the rental must physically come and collect scooters with low batteries and take them somewhere to charge but when written down that sounds ridiculous and really unlikely. Confused
EastWestWhosBest · 17/04/2021 08:30

@Macncheeseballs

I see plenty of adults on them around where I live. Needing a licence to drive doesn't stop cars being the biggest cause of road death.
Well of course cars will be the biggest cause of road death. What else would be?

I’m not saying cars are great but I am saying that allowing teens to fly around on these things is an accident waiting to happen. A child will die as a result of these before the year is out. And that is what it is going to take for them to be taken seriously.

ghostyslovesheets · 17/04/2021 08:41

That’s like saying everyone should be allowed to carry a nice because guns kill people more effectively- cars don’t tend to be ridden down pavements by 14 year olds!

ghostyslovesheets · 17/04/2021 08:41

Knife ffs

Rewis · 17/04/2021 08:57

Someone with a van uses GPS to track the scooters. Picks up the ones with low battery and then take a then to a warehouse type place to charge them. These employees either works for the rental company or a subcontractor. Depending on the company They have different titles like 'Hunter' cause they hunt the scooters. Also they are a bit like Uber or Deliveroo and gets paid per scooter picked up. Then they drop the full ones to certain spots and go pick new empty ones.

Of course this varies by the company but that is how the ones we have in my city operate.

PhilCornwall1 · 17/04/2021 09:02

@jacspatoutthecat

So just out of interest if anybodys kids/teens do have them are they are insured?? And when you buy them they are obviously bought in a parents name who has a driving licence. Am I correct???
Our eldest (now 19) bought one himself, was totally up to him as he was 18 at the time. He doesn't have any insurance and has used it out a few times, the rest of the time it's in the garage. A pointless expense if you ask me.

I've told him it's down to him to sort it out if he takes it out and gets in the shit with the Police.

Wegobshite · 17/04/2021 09:20

I’ve just invested in a car camera because of the fuckers . I suggest anyone that drives also do the same .
I hate them - only yesterday I almost hit one who was riding up a one way rd - on the rd and then swerved across the rd into my path .
If I would have hit the idiot I honestly wouldn’t have given a shit - apart from the obvious hassle I would have got from the police I would have been fine as I have a camera which would prove I was driving legally and they were driving like a cunt. And this was a adult at least 25 not some young kid .
Where I live they have the trials and people are using them as playthings rather than using them for short journeys .
Any parent that buys one for their kids to ride on the roads and streets are complete assholes and if there kids get seriously hurt I have no sympathy for them .
It’s only going to be a matter of time before someone gets killed on one because of the way they are being used .

Wegobshite · 17/04/2021 09:22

I did read that if your caught on them on the tea you could end up with 6 points on your licence .
As it’s a motorised on a public rd and that’s against the law
Not to mention having no insurance for the bloody thing

CounsellorTroi · 17/04/2021 09:25

@JesusInTheCabbageVan

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!
This is a good point. They should be equipped with bells or something if they’re going to be ridden anywhere other than private land.
Macncheeseballs · 17/04/2021 09:26

Far more people are killed on pavements by cars being dangerously driven, anything that improves movement around cities without adding to congestion is a good thing

Macncheeseballs · 17/04/2021 09:28

Jesusinthecabbagevan, I think 'it wouldn't kill you to walk you lazy bugger' about plenty of drivers