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Should E Scooters be banned?

(70 Posts)
GrannyGravy13 Sun 18-Jul-21 15:02:07

They are currently illegal in England apart from the trial in London (not sure if there are trials in other cities, I haven’t checked)

The police are confiscating any e-scooters they see being used on public roads and/or pavements and fining those riding them.

Not sure how I feel, maybe a good idea if they are to become legal that they have to pay nominal road tax/insurance along with compulsory helmets.

SueDonim Sun 18-Jul-21 14:57:01

I’ve been knocked down and badly injured by a cyclist - I shudder to think of the damage a collision with an e-scooter could cause.

vegansrock Sun 18-Jul-21 14:41:21

Definitely ban them on pavements. Have an age/ speed limit and must wear helmets. We see them all the time here , very dangerous.

Shropshirelass Sun 18-Jul-21 14:30:42

I live in a rural area and there aren’t many round here, but I do have one whizz across the road in front of me a few days ago. Only a young lad on it and certainly going much faster than he should have been going. It startled me as there was no sound! It must be awful in the built up areas. There needs to be more controls on who has them.

Mollygo Sun 18-Jul-21 14:25:20

I’d love one. Not so tricky as a Segway and takes up less room than my scissor scooter, though not as good for exercise.
I take the point about batteries, which is why I’m doing more cycling than I used to but we’re being encouraged to buy electric cars.

Gransooz Sun 18-Jul-21 14:18:08

Namsnanny

Gransoz go buy one and use it on private land.

That’s a thought but I’ll probably wait till they’re legal. I think one would be good to take away in the motorhome. ?

Polarbear2 Sun 18-Jul-21 14:07:33

I’d love one. They look great fun and an easy way to do a short commute. No different to cycles imho. In Sheffield they’re building a dedicated route right through the City from the suburbs - not always on roads - a special path. Some minor roads are being closed tho to allow it. It’s the future I’m afraid. We can’t carry on using cars as we do. They’ll become for leisure or long journeys I’d guess.

Galaxy Sun 18-Jul-21 14:02:23

Grooming is a fairly strong word, presumably they are encouraged to reduce car usage in town centres, in the same way bus lanes arent grooming, cycles lanesarent grooming, park and ride arent grooming.

Namsnanny Sun 18-Jul-21 13:59:56

I would ask if they weren't free everywhere, would people even bother to buy them.

The public is being 'groomed' to like them.

Namsnanny Sun 18-Jul-21 13:58:26

Gransoz go buy one and use it on private land.

Namsnanny Sun 18-Jul-21 13:56:10

I dont think the convenience should outway the safety etc.

Even if it is convenient for some, should the vast majority have their convenience (safe walking bike riding ect) ruined?

Chardy Sun 18-Jul-21 13:53:05

I walk the dogs along the prom first thing. They've been a nuisance since well before the March 2020 lockdown. They're illegal except on private land, and because they're illegal there's no-one to service or insure them. If you were hit by one, it would break a bone.
The police stop them, 'educate' the rider and let them carry on!
At this very moment, the prom is full of families, old people, disabled people, little kids in buggies, on little scooters and small bikes, parents carrying babies in the arms and in baby slings. I guarantee they'll be escooters too, weaving in and out.
Another example of 'what I want is more important than your safety'.

Katie59 Sun 18-Jul-21 13:46:15

Much more convenient than a bike for commuting, easier to keep secure, my son has one.

eazybee Sun 18-Jul-21 13:42:18

I think they should; they are a danger to pedestrians and cannot cope in fast traffic.

Gransooz Sun 18-Jul-21 13:37:01

No. I’d love one!

Lollin Sun 18-Jul-21 13:34:54

Yes, but they won’t be

Namsnanny Sun 18-Jul-21 13:33:22

Yes they should.

Im glad you posted this.
How on earth can it be sensible to put yet another vehicle on the busy pathways/cycle paths/roads?

No insurance, no training, no age limit. Seems so stupid to me.

They're illegal on pavements, cycle paths, roads at the moment, even though the Police dont enforce it. So the law has to be changed to accommodate them.

The batteries take resources away from other electronic devices, and the people who mine these have an awful existence.
Why make this commodity more scarce by using it in a poor excuse for 'reducing global warming'?

It's not an odd post at all. In fact it's odd to say so.

timetogo2016 Sun 18-Jul-21 13:18:59

I see your point 25Avalon,but i also see AmberSpyglasses point.
Iv`e seen someone hit by one of those E Scooters,but iv`e also seen many car accidents and my dh was knocked into by a mobility scooter and had rather bad bruising.
Bacially,it`s down to the person driving/riding these vehicles.
IMO the scooters/mobility scooters should have a minimum MPH limit,ie:no more than 10mph.

AmberSpyglass Sun 18-Jul-21 13:05:51

Why should they be banned? People use cars for criminal activity and they hurt people too. Should cars be banned?

What an odd post.

25Avalon Sun 18-Jul-21 13:01:55

These are being trialled over the country and it looks like the government is going to approve them despite adults and children being injured by them and their use for criminal activities. They are unlikely to mean less cars on the road and those using them are not getting any exercise unlike those who cycle or walk.