Electric scooters really fuck me off

[ORYX99]

Every morning I walk my son to school. Every morning there are people on electric scooters on the pavement expecting us to move out of the way for them. They are way too fast to be on the pavement. This morning one dinged their bell at me from behind and came past me with about three inches to spare. I have PMT so probably feeling more irritable than usual but it really pisses me off. Are they actually allowed on the pavement?

YADNBU OP. I nearliy got hit from behind by someone only a couple of days ago..

Not only do I hate them for all the reasons PPs have listed but also because of the brainless, selfish, f*ckwits who decide to park them across the middle of the pavement or in front of driveways.

I also hate seeing people riding on them 2 at a time especially when one of them is a young child.

In theory they are a good idea and we do need other forms of transport but unfortunately our road systems are just not designed for them and neither are some of the imbeciles that seem to favour them.

Very true. And annoyingly some now confuse those who are illegally riding electric motorbikes with those of us on e-bikes that ARE legal. In government jargon the legal ones are "electrically-assisted pedal cycles" (EAPCs). They only have a tiny, speed-limited motor and you still have to pedal; if you don't, the motor cuts out and the bike goes nowhere. You can also turn off the motor and ride the bike like any other bicycle.

But the scumbags aren't on EAPCs. They're on electric bikes that are throttle controlled not pedalled, have big motors, can do high speeds and are supposed to be registered with DVLA, insured, need a motorbike licence etc etc if they're not on private land.

I ride a 100% legal e-bike and I ride it on the road, not on the pavement. But I've had abuse shouted at me recently because people hear the whirr of a motor and think I'm doing something illegal.

It's all a bit of a mess at the moment and there's no sign the government is going to sort it out.

I think with everything its the attitude of the driver that's the problem

The police did a brief stint of seizing them if seen in the town centre (they actually seized quite a few). But that fizzled out pretty quick. I have no idea if the scooters were eventually returned but it didn't reduce the number of people using them, people just avoided the town centre

Well since that's where it's busiest at least it was progress of a sort if they kept them out of the town centre, but there's not much point in doing it once or twice then never again

Same with suburbs - and the police know perfectly well which ones to focus on.
It doesn't have to be every day; a rolling programme of unannounced seizures just might make a difference, since when going out the knuckle draggers would never know when they were likely to lose their scooter

it's silly they're illegal if we are trying to get people out of cars. physically separate the bike lanes and let people get around quickly.

YANBU

They piss me off too. There was one going down the middle of the main road near me earlier. Very fast, keeping up with cars speed. No lights, no helmet, and I'd bet my dinner there was no bloody insurance either.

I hate them
I use a rollator and worry there going to knock me over
It's worse as you can't hear them behind you

Hate the damn things. We have a council scheme. They're all over the place, abandoned on pavements where there's no way to get a wheelchair around, and kids fly around on them. I've had two near misses where I've been driving down a road at about 20 mph and someone on a scooter and earbuds in has just sailed out in front of me. One was on the road and zoomed around a corner straight into my path, the other sailed off the kerb to cross the road without looking. Both times I had to stand on the brake and swerve. And yes, you see parents flying down the pavements with a kid stood on in front of them.

I live in Germany. I have an electric scooter that I use to get to the bus. I’m lucky that there is a 6km cycle path from my residential area to the bus.
I must have a small number plate to show I have insurance and I am limited to 20km/h.
I have used a pavement to cross narrow bridges but I always get off my scooter and push it if there are people walking.
It is all about looking ahead, being responsible and having respect for other road and pavement users.
It is unfortunate that some people ruin it for others and they shouldn’t be using private ones in the UK any way.

They are illegal, if caught riding an e-scooter, fines you may receive can include: a Fixed Penalty Notice for no insurance; with a £300 fine and six penalty points. a Fixed Penalty Notice for no driving licence, up to £100 fine and three-six penalty points.