E-scooters, pavement parking and street clutter

[MobilityCat]

Are you finding that you have to navigate A boards, tables and chairs extended into the pavement, refuse bins, pavement parking, along with the new and growing menace e-scooters weaving along the pavement or scattered around the pavement?

If I parked fully in the road, the traffic on my side of the road wouldn't be able to get past until there was a gap on the other side. Surely it's better not to inconvenience 100s of cars rather than a few pedestrians

But usually it inconveniences both, because you still have to give way to oncoming traffic. So just park on the road as then you don't inconvenience pedestrians. Obviously if the road is really narrow that's different, but then the road probably isn't so busy that it's dangerous for pedestrians to go in the road. If it is, then you find somewhere else to park. The "need" to park does not outweigh a pedestrians right to walk freely in spaces designed for them (reminds me of another debate!)

Parking on pavements is one thing but I don't understand the "pavement chairs"? I never see this - are people putting tables and chairs on pavements elsewhere?

Bins is only on bin day here, people always move them back in Once collected.

@maddening

Parking on pavements is one thing but I don't understand the "pavement chairs"? I never see this - are people putting tables and chairs on pavements elsewhere?

Bins is only on bin day here, people always move them back in Once collected.

Restaurants pubs and other similar shops are putting out a lot of extra tables and chairs on the pavement to extend their business. Soho is probably the worst with pavements inaccessible by wheelchair.

When I see people using eScooters sensibly and respectfully (albeit still illegally in my area), I can entirely see the point of them.

They are just going to be an utter menace as they multiply though, as the sensible ones are by far in the minority - I have seen two kids on one scooter almost run off the road by a car as they flew round a blind corner in the middle of the road, and various other children doing the same but lucky enough not to meet a car (that time).

I just hope the parents who are letting children ride these illegally don't try to blame the poor drivers when they knock the children off them.

I love your thoughts on this and thoroughly agree. Our Council can't even repair potholes so I'm not holding my breath. They seem to do things better in Europe but they're not our BFFs anymore.

I always point to Chelmsford as a good (imperfect though) example of how we can achieve this. They pedestrianised their high street which worked well for a bit, although it was really at the wrong time and the quality of shops did still decline. I do think this would have happened regardless of pedestrianisation.

Since 2015 they've taken on a huge regeneration project which has involved building a whole new shopping area, pedestrianising another large area, integrating the public transport system better and building lots of new homes. It has really worked, and I think we are all better for it. The outdoor cafe culture is flourishing and doesn't take away from the space that people have to get around. They have started to put into practise the cycling infrastructure. They're even planning a new train station to make things work. It should be a masterclass in how to revitalise post pandemic.

There are still some major issues (decaying 1960s infrastructure) but at least it is being dealt with.