Should we ban them too ?

[gas112]

Paris votes on banning e-scooters for hire as pedestrians complain of 'a sort of anarchy'

The City of Lights is voting on whether to ban the hiring of e-scooters and, as critics point to dangerous accidents, pedestrians say there is no space left for them, while the vehicles' environmental credentials are being questioned.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Notch7]

Paris votes on banning e-scooters for hire as pedestrians complain of 'a sort of anarchy'

The City of Lights is voting on whether to ban the hiring of e-scooters and, as critics point to dangerous accidents, pedestrians say there is no space left for them, while the vehicles' environmental credentials are being questioned.

www.abc.net.au

I don’t think they are legal in UK on public roads / pavements apart from the ones you can hire.


I think it would be wrong to ban these things totally.

In Cities it would be amazing to have extensive scooter paths so all those commuters doing just a few miles could use them instead of the car.

 

[Justin Passing]

You could say what's the difference between them and electric bikes, but they do seem to be ridden appallingly and be more crash and injury prone. On a university campus with a 5mph speed limit, they'd be fine. But 20mph on a dual carriageway, you gotta be joking.

 

[Ihavenojob]

Has anyone banned them yet?

As far as I know, privately owned ones are illegal to use in public places, but plod won't act as the judiciary won't prosecute, as in a lot of crimes.

 

[IT Minion]

Banning them isn't going to work. After all they are banned now.

Requiring them to be capped at some speed like 8mph, so slower than an e-bike, could work though.

The law should be changed to allow their use.

 

[Justin Passing]

There are plans to legalise them, 12.5mph. Baroness Vere.

 

[Vinty]

They should be banned from riding on the footpath.

 

[ericmark]

A foot path should have all motorised vehicles limited to 4 MPH, and the mobility scooters for use on a foot path are so limited, on the road they can do 8 MPH, and with an ebike on the foot path only permitted walk assist again limit is 4 MPH on the road limit for electric assistance is 16 MPH.

The ebike needs brakes on all wheels, and when going over 4 MPH the motor can only assist, early versions were allowed a throttle but that was stopped, and it is the assistance part which means scooters can't comply.

So be it a bike, mobility scooter, or scooter the big question is does it really NEED pedal assist or can will allow over 4 or 8 MPH without pedals, there are mobility scooters which can do 8 MPH, but only the disabled are permitted to ride them.

The hire of the scooter was to allow people to see how it works, and have the ability to withdraw the licence, but why a scooter not an ebike?

Well in the main it is being able to transport the bike/scooter to where you want to use it. And the ebike is too large and heavy. I can put my ebike on the local train costs £3.50 same as a dog, but needs to fold really to fit all carriages, and I can't carry it on a bus, I can't carry it in my wife's Jag, but will fit in my car.

So what we want is bike racks on buses so one can use an ebike, then no need for scooters, technically I can't even use my non motorised scooter on public roads in the UK, as it only has a brake on the rear wheel.

 

[diy_fun_uk]

A bit OT but when coming home yesterday I saw something I don't see nearly as frequently these days, a young guy on a scrambler type motorbike wearing no helmet. I was waiting to turn in at a junction and up he came, put his hand out to turn left which he duly did. It's a 20 zone (the road we were both going onto) however let's just say he was going slightly faster than that, off he went in a cloud of (not very healthy engine) smoke into the distance. My predominant thought, for his sake, was I hope you don't fall off. Helmet-less, a fall at the speeds he was doing could be nasty.

 

[Ihavenojob]

but why a scooter not an ebike?

Because a bike is a bigger trip hazard when abandoned.

 

[RandomGrinch]

There are areas, where the legal use of e-scooters are being trialled:

E-scooter trials: guidance for users

Where you are allowed to ride an e-scooter rented as part of a government trial, how to travel safely, licensing guidance and the rules of the road.

www.gov.uk

...I found out about this from a recent episode of "Traffic Cops" - I can't tell you the episode at the moment - but a hapless student was caught riding home from a night out in York. He was charged with "Drink Driving"!

 

[Dork Lard]

Is it the vehicle that creates the hazard . . . . Or is it who in control of said vehicle???

I think we should euthanase anyone who feels the need to get onboard one of 'em.

 

[motorbiking]

I think we should see them like bicycles. They could easily reduce congestion and allow people to use public transport for journeys where they don’t have a bus stop near them.

 

[ericmark]

Because a bike is a bigger trip hazard when abandoned.

For rented yes, but for personal use are you really likely to abandon a bike costing £500 plus?

However the question is why do people want e-scooters over an e-bike, and it is so they can carry the unit on buses, trains, and into buildings to keep secure. There is no way at 24 kg I am carrying my e-bike far, and it will not fit in wife's car.

People will need a full or provisional car, motorcycle or moped licence to take part in the trials, and must be 16 or over to ride an e-scooter, but don't need a licence and can ride an e-bike at 14. The new legal framework governing the trials explains that vehicles will be limited to 15.5mph and will only be allowed on roads, cycle lanes and tracks, but not pavements.

 

[transam]

I would ban them

Plus push bikes on certain roads and caravans apart from 11pm till 5 am

I am pretty much of the opinion that any thing I don’t like (??) or interferes with my day should be banned ( possibly )