E Scooters soon to be allowed on UK roads?
Discussion
What's needed is to legislate to allow the Xiamoi 365-type (25km/h) scoooters so people who want to take advantage are easily able to purchase a road-legal scooter, and that those selling illegal scooters will simply die out (or legalise).
As for riding them on a 60mph road - any driver should be prepared to encounter something blocking their way at any time, whether it's a tractor, horse, cyclist, broken down vehicle etc. A scooter at 15mph is probably quicker than most leisure cyclists. When legalised, the usage will probably increase quite a bit, since they are an ideal way to solve the "last mile (or more)" of public transport.
As for riding them on a 60mph road - any driver should be prepared to encounter something blocking their way at any time, whether it's a tractor, horse, cyclist, broken down vehicle etc. A scooter at 15mph is probably quicker than most leisure cyclists. When legalised, the usage will probably increase quite a bit, since they are an ideal way to solve the "last mile (or more)" of public transport.
Laurel Green said:
There's a programme on ITV at 7.30 this evening; E-Scooters: Britain's New Road Rage?
Demonstrated that young people like them and old people are frightened of them so want them banned. Much like this thread.Concern about them on pavements, unworried by bicycles on pavements.
I can understand, shall we say a newbie, not wanting to ride them on the roads as with those small wheels they are going to feel unsafe for them. Better designed wheels are needed, especially as it is looking like legislation will come into force to allow them onto our roads in the not too distant future.
Had to laugh when that girl received her scooter, saying that she didn't like walking back up the big steep hill after work. Then, seeing her pushing it back up the hill muttering " they aren't very powerful".
Had to laugh when that girl received her scooter, saying that she didn't like walking back up the big steep hill after work. Then, seeing her pushing it back up the hill muttering " they aren't very powerful".
I do find it wonderfully ironic that in parallel with the environment and pollution becoming issue number 1, we see the popularity of a perfect environmentally friendly, congestion reducing city solution, only for the officials to heavily police them and for the public to be very anti them. In the UK of course. Elsewhere in Europe I have been they are just zipping around on them.
Shnozz said:
I do find it wonderfully ironic that in parallel with the environment and pollution becoming issue number 1, we see the popularity of a perfect environmentally friendly, congestion reducing city solution, only for the officials to heavily police them and for the public to be very anti them. In the UK of course. Elsewhere in Europe I have been they are just zipping around on them.
Different mind set in the countries currently using them from what I've seen, All users of all forms of traffic seem to be able to co-exist without gobbing off at each other as to who has priority etc and without users trying to beat their best time on Strava etc.
It's also helped that they (scooter users and cyclists) tend to follow the rules of the road including red lights and stop signs.
These are going to be some of the biggest challenge in the UK...
Seesure said:
Different mind set in the countries currently using them from what I've seen,
All users of all forms of traffic seem to be able to co-exist without gobbing off at each other as to who has priority etc and without users trying to beat their best time on Strava etc.
It's also helped that they (scooter users and cyclists) tend to follow the rules of the road including red lights and stop signs.
These are going to be some of the biggest challenge in the UK...
You have just displayed the problem perfectly, even though you admit it is the mindset, you then go on to display the british mindset of it being the problem of Strava All users of all forms of traffic seem to be able to co-exist without gobbing off at each other as to who has priority etc and without users trying to beat their best time on Strava etc.
It's also helped that they (scooter users and cyclists) tend to follow the rules of the road including red lights and stop signs.
These are going to be some of the biggest challenge in the UK...
and running red lights, both utter non issues. You cannot help this country, the car is king, and nothing will get in the way of fat 
s driving half a mile to the shop.Escooters should be subsidised - real game changer. Just keep to the roads not pavements. Cars inner city should be kept to 15mph too. Ive started driving at that speed on local roads and its a revelation - super chilled out, never seem to hit traffic, always meet green lights. If all powered transport kept to under 20mph roads would be a lot safer and it would help scooter adoption.
bmwmike said:
Escooters should be subsidised - real game changer. Just keep to the roads not pavements. Cars inner city should be kept to 15mph too. Ive started driving at that speed on local roads and its a revelation - super chilled out, never seem to hit traffic, always meet green lights. If all powered transport kept to under 20mph roads would be a lot safer and it would help scooter adoption.
I assume this is a joke. A blanket 20mph limit. To be fair, that is faster than a lot of the M25 currently moves.Shnozz said:
I do find it wonderfully ironic that in parallel with the environment and pollution becoming issue number 1, we see the popularity of a perfect environmentally friendly, congestion reducing city solution, only for the officials to heavily police them and for the public to be very anti them. In the UK of course. Elsewhere in Europe I have been they are just zipping around on them.
I think the best thing about them for the UK is that you can take them inside with you so they don't get nicked. Though I'd expect people to start getting scooter jacked and them then used for drive by bag snatching with more frequency.
The scooters are not the problem.
Toltec said:
I think the best thing about them for the UK is that you can take them inside with you so they don't get nicked.
Though I'd expect people to start getting scooter jacked and them then used for drive by bag snatching with more frequency.
The scooters are not the problem.
Police near me in South London tweeted about pulling over 35 people on scooters (seizing them too), 1 carrying a knife, 1 carrying class a drugs, and one or two assaults Though I'd expect people to start getting scooter jacked and them then used for drive by bag snatching with more frequency.
The scooters are not the problem.
The same people will have been on 'unlocked' Lime bikes before scooters, it has nothing to do with the scooter.You don't really hear people getting bike jacked, despite there being (including me) a huge number of people riding around on bikes worth 5k and more.
eldar said:
old people are frightened of them so want them banned. Much like this thread.
Oi.......I'm 60 and I've got one. Ive fitted a wider board to mine so make it nicer to ride.The problem with hire scooters is that people unused to them aren't confident initially and a bit wobbly. Ultimately they don't care about them. An owner rider on the other hand has learned to ride it and invested lots of quids so is more careful.
eldar said:
bmwmike said:
Escooters should be subsidised - real game changer. Just keep to the roads not pavements. Cars inner city should be kept to 15mph too. Ive started driving at that speed on local roads and its a revelation - super chilled out, never seem to hit traffic, always meet green lights. If all powered transport kept to under 20mph roads would be a lot safer and it would help scooter adoption.
I assume this is a joke. A blanket 20mph limit. To be fair, that is faster than a lot of the M25 currently moves.Imagine 50% fewer cars, and those drivers now cycling, ebiking, or scooting instead.. much better all round, no?
bmwmike said:
Nope, not a joke, it keeps traffic moving as you seem to concur. Its knobbers driving at 40mph+ everywhere are the problem as they just become a rolling roadblock. Car drivers will have to accept a big shove down the pecking order at some point, hopefully soon. Some may feel thats already happened and they are already victimised, but we've not seen anything yet. Car drivers are already heavily subsidised on the roads, and the dues will be pulled in soon ish IMO.
Imagine 50% fewer cars, and those drivers now cycling, ebiking, or scooting instead.. much better all round, no?
as long as you all keep out of my way Imagine 50% fewer cars, and those drivers now cycling, ebiking, or scooting instead.. much better all round, no?
Mine is being delivered today. Have been contemplating one for a while and yesterday thought sod it and bought one.
It's the perfect last mile commute solution for me. Purposely bought one that does less than the 15mph or whatever the law is on the rentals. Thought about an electric folding bike but not only are they considerably more expensive they're also a lot heavier and a bit more hassle either end.
I know technically it's illegal but they really are the solution. Keep off the pavements, ride sensibly and courteously, keep the speed down and hopefully the old bill will leave me alone. Just need a helmet now.
It's the perfect last mile commute solution for me. Purposely bought one that does less than the 15mph or whatever the law is on the rentals. Thought about an electric folding bike but not only are they considerably more expensive they're also a lot heavier and a bit more hassle either end.
I know technically it's illegal but they really are the solution. Keep off the pavements, ride sensibly and courteously, keep the speed down and hopefully the old bill will leave me alone. Just need a helmet now.
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