E scooters are illegal? - right!!

[jacspatoutthecat]

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!!!

There ought to be a registration system for use in public spaces. That way it would be easier for the police to spot the illegal ones. Mobility scooters aren't allowed to do more than 4mph on pavements and the same rule ought to be extended to these contraptions (and bicycles really). All of the other rules about lights, bells and signals should also apply to e-scooters, with individuals banned from the service if caught misusing them.

@jacspatoutthecat

I think my problem mainly is that parents are allowing their children to break the law by buying them these scooters and allowing them to ride them on public land. I don't want my children to think it is ok to break the law. If they were legal I would be more willing to consider buying them one. Just spoke to a friend who was aware they are illegal but she doesnt' have to take her kids anywhere now as they just scoot and go and she says that trumps the "against the law" card!!

Been there with ds wanting a hover board which is also illegal. If your children are old enough to be considering one of these, they are old enough to hear they are against the law, understand why they are against the law, the possible consequences and that you won't be buying one regardless of what others are doing.

@MrsAvocet

Kerebos specialist bike insurance policies will cover 3rd party liability too but membership of BC or CUK is probably cheaper and has other benefits. Most of the BC membership categories also cover legal protection if you're involved in an accident that isn't your fault too. (I'm not sure about CUK as I'm not a member.) It's only about £40 a year so well worth it in my opinion. Personally I'd have no problem with insurance being mandatory for cyclists and scooter riders but I know that's not a very popular opinion.

Thanks! I did go and look at BC website. You get a lot for £40 a year so I'm going to gift it to him. Given the insurance is included and the price is low, I'm guessing they don't have a lot of claims to pay.

I've just done a bit of googling. Looks like insurance is already available for escooters from several providers.

If mumsnet had been around when bicycles were invented, I'm sure you'd all be moaning about them too

@Macncheeseballs

If mumsnet had been around when bicycles were invented, I'm sure you'd all be moaning about them too

Mumsnet moans about them anyway. Thing is though that only the odd bad egg rides a bike on a footpath (excluding children) whereas these electric scooters are few in number and yet constitute a disproportionate menace.

The same thing was said about bicycles in the 1890s.

www.dispatch.com/entertainmentlife/20180908/early-bikes-sparked-same-fears-in-19th-century-that-scooters-do-today

@Ponoka7

"They used to be illegal to use but pretty sure they were legalised to use on pavement during first lockdown"

No it's still illegal to use a privately owned or be on the pavement. The Council own or lease the ones for hire, so they are legal to ride on any council owned land (the pavement).

Nope. There's a trial here and you still can't ride them on the pavement (unless it's a shared one for pedestrians and bicycles). You can ride them on any public land where bikes are permitted.

Dh and ds have both got scooters although both drive. I am not happy about ds having one but he bought his own and knows they are still illegal.

Dh is disabled and the scooter has been fabulous for him as it means he can come for walks in the woods with us that he wouldn’t have been able to before and we can walk to friends houses instead of having to drive. He doesn’t need a wheelchair and disability scooters are so big to store when not in use. He is very sensible though and not racing about everywhere!

Several kids have got them near us and so far there hasn’t been any problems with them.

Cycling UK can recommend solicitors to cyclists who are hit by car driver, and when car driver refuses to pay for damage to the bicycle -- happened to DH recently. He initially asked for £700 for the brake lever replacement & settled for £2.5k (to also cover part of the legal costs) after the driver tried to claim (but failed to prove) it was his fault.

Part of his key evidence that collision was not his fault was his Strava upload, btw.

Dh and ds have both got scooters although both drive. I am not happy about ds having one but he bought his own and knows they are still illegal.

If they’re stopped by the police then they can look forward to 6 points for no insurance and possibly driving otherwise in accordance with a license.

They are a great idea but not when the people using them just rush over streets. Wind up and down the pavements and roads.

No, e-scooters rented under the DfT trial scheme are not, and never have been permitted on pavements. If/when private e-scooters are legalised they too will be banned from pavements......just like pedal cycles.

Any parent even considering buying their child an e-scooter needs their head seeing to. In 2023 a 14 year old boy, and his parents, were convicted of killing 71 year old Linda Davis whilst e-scooting on the pavement in Rainworth, Notts. Moreover, of the 61 e-scooter riders killed in the UK since 2019, 10 (16%) were under 18. All were killed in collision with vehicles. However, 66% of adult riders deaths involved no other vehicle, they lost control, fell and hit the ground fixed objects, typically parked cars, trees, posts. This illustrates just how unstable and dangerous they are. In addition, it can be assumed that for every fatality, there are many more serious injuries with life-changing consequences. Do you really want that for your child. Buy them a pedal bike instead.
Private e-scooters remain illegal to ride in any public place and even private property where the public have access (eg parks, school property, public car parks, university campus, trading estates, hospital grounds etc). Hence, a university or school head has not got the authority to approve them on their "private" property.