Electric Scooters - time to make legal?
Discussion
So with a rocketing oil/fossil fuel price and most journeys under a few miles is it time for the government to pull its finger out and make privately owned electric scooters legal on uk roads?
Obviously it needs some common sense rules like no riding on pavements and some sort of maximum speed but are they really any more dangerous than other two wheeled transport?
Since covid is still with us the idea of public transport isn’t appealing to many. Not everyone is fit enough to cycle and EVs are still generally too expensive (plus likely not to get cheaper soon given the material costs going up).
It seems to me that electric scooters would be the perfect solution for many needing to do a short commute across town.
Obviously it needs some common sense rules like no riding on pavements and some sort of maximum speed but are they really any more dangerous than other two wheeled transport?
Since covid is still with us the idea of public transport isn’t appealing to many. Not everyone is fit enough to cycle and EVs are still generally too expensive (plus likely not to get cheaper soon given the material costs going up).
It seems to me that electric scooters would be the perfect solution for many needing to do a short commute across town.
The neighbouring county's police are always posting on FB about scooters being the most horrific offense going but I can't see the problem, you have the government constantly going on about the need to get out of our cars yet ban an alternative.
It's not like electric bicycles are treated the same as they aren't banned (obviously there must be a reason)
Ok some tit powering down the pavement at 15 mph is going to cause a nuisance but none more so than those belligerent pensioners that barrel down at you waving you out of the way with a dirty look.
It's not like electric bicycles are treated the same as they aren't banned (obviously there must be a reason)
Ok some tit powering down the pavement at 15 mph is going to cause a nuisance but none more so than those belligerent pensioners that barrel down at you waving you out of the way with a dirty look.
They are legal here in Sweden, there are the usual accidents but I don't think that's much different to cycling, walking or driving to be honest... the only difference here is that we are much more cycling friendly than the UK and the el scooters can use all of the cycle paths we have.
The local FB group is always moaning about them (we have a authorized scheme) but for me it stinks of the usual pro-car / anti "everything else" attitude that comes from many.
Plenty of people are killed or injured every year by cars while on the footway, yet if you listen to some electric scooters and cyclists are mowing down pedestrian in the thousands and there is no problem with cars
Plenty of people are killed or injured every year by cars while on the footway, yet if you listen to some electric scooters and cyclists are mowing down pedestrian in the thousands and there is no problem with cars
Kinda off topic, are these things really legal with no tax insurance or DVLA registration? Would be a better option (IMO). Do they "go"?
(Bit sceptical of the "used, with a brand new battery" but hey ho)
(£999)
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Electric-Bike-Scooter-M...
(Bit sceptical of the "used, with a brand new battery" but hey ho)
(£999)
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Electric-Bike-Scooter-M...
There was a long thread on here which displayed some of the opposition to them. Like the OP says, I am fully on board as a great city solution to reduce emissions and save needless fuel as well as reduce congestion. The fact you can rent them legally but not ride your own seems mad. I wouldn't risk points on my licence so won't be buying one but otherwise I would.
Fantastic idea, but would need to be some minimum requirements (e.g. lights front and rear, always on) in my view. Too many people use them and are barely visible, especially in the early morning / dusk. We live in an area that isn't festooned with street lighting, so visibility is essential for everyone's safety. You'd think this would be a simple way to reduce car journeys and local emissions. Probably waiting for the right Tory donor to set up the right business to sell them to us...
Whenever I'm in London I see lots of cyclists on their own bikes dressed up in hi-viz. I see Boris bikes ridden by those in normal work clothes. Then I see electric scooters ridden by ninjas.
There's something culturally not right with them. They seem to attract a similar demographic to quad bikes.
There's something culturally not right with them. They seem to attract a similar demographic to quad bikes.
The trouble is, at the moment they attract people for whom the legality is not a concern, usually some little tracksuited scrote who then rides it dangerously and inconsiderately causing anti scooter sentiment. I had one come round the corner when walking and nearly splat the dog, ridden by a kid whose hair had been styled to look exactly like an Alpaca, he was to be fair apologetic.
Great way to get about really, cheap, efficient and ecologically sound but as usual the lowest common denominator will, as always ruin it.
Great way to get about really, cheap, efficient and ecologically sound but as usual the lowest common denominator will, as always ruin it.
They really should. Make them legal and promote responsible use in the same way as a bike.
Certainly in cities they seem to be the answer that the authorities want buses or electric cars to solve.
Quick, easy, convenient, enjoyable, cheap, green, efficient, doesn't need a parking space...
Make them legal and give the public the option you want to give them
Certainly in cities they seem to be the answer that the authorities want buses or electric cars to solve.
Quick, easy, convenient, enjoyable, cheap, green, efficient, doesn't need a parking space...
Make them legal and give the public the option you want to give them
All this is discussed in a long running thread, here: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
As above though, the problem is that the government have decided to make rental scooters legal, and keep privately owned scooters illegal to use, while they 'carry out research' into the safety aspects of e-scooters.
This, as I'm sure you can imagine, has resulted in the following:
a) Many rental scooters being ridden by complete idiots with no regard for the careful use fo the scooter, and no regard for the rules. They don't care if the scooter gets damaged because it doesn't belong to them, and they don't care if their bad behaviour results in a passing police officer taking it off them, as again, it isn't theirs.
b) Private e scooters being used primarily by people who don't care about the laws. If you don't care about the laws, and are prepared to ride an illegal scooter, then you don't really give a toss about anyone else either and will ride fast and dangerous.y. Worse than this, there is a growing 'behaviour' amongst the illegal riders that the only way to keep riding is to buy ever faster scooters so that "the pigs can't catch you" (quoted from a. big e scooter Facebook group that I'm on).
If privately owned electric scooters were legalised, and carefully regulated like e-bikes (restricted top speed and power etc) we would see significant numbers of the public buying them and riding fairly carefully, as they don't want to damage their own £500 scooter or have it taken off them for a traffic infringement.
But, we now have a situation where the vast majority of the people using e scooters, either rental or illegal private ones, are acting like idiots on the roads, and this behaviour is now feeding into the government's studies on safety. They have begun to conclude that no one can be trusted with a scooter based on what they see happening right now.
The government have already extended 'trials and research' for another 12 months due to their worries.
Because, as usual in their country, the government have gone about this in a total 'arse about face' fashion, we will probably never see privately owned scooters legalised anytime.
As above though, the problem is that the government have decided to make rental scooters legal, and keep privately owned scooters illegal to use, while they 'carry out research' into the safety aspects of e-scooters.
This, as I'm sure you can imagine, has resulted in the following:
a) Many rental scooters being ridden by complete idiots with no regard for the careful use fo the scooter, and no regard for the rules. They don't care if the scooter gets damaged because it doesn't belong to them, and they don't care if their bad behaviour results in a passing police officer taking it off them, as again, it isn't theirs.
b) Private e scooters being used primarily by people who don't care about the laws. If you don't care about the laws, and are prepared to ride an illegal scooter, then you don't really give a toss about anyone else either and will ride fast and dangerous.y. Worse than this, there is a growing 'behaviour' amongst the illegal riders that the only way to keep riding is to buy ever faster scooters so that "the pigs can't catch you" (quoted from a. big e scooter Facebook group that I'm on).
If privately owned electric scooters were legalised, and carefully regulated like e-bikes (restricted top speed and power etc) we would see significant numbers of the public buying them and riding fairly carefully, as they don't want to damage their own £500 scooter or have it taken off them for a traffic infringement.
But, we now have a situation where the vast majority of the people using e scooters, either rental or illegal private ones, are acting like idiots on the roads, and this behaviour is now feeding into the government's studies on safety. They have begun to conclude that no one can be trusted with a scooter based on what they see happening right now.
The government have already extended 'trials and research' for another 12 months due to their worries.
Because, as usual in their country, the government have gone about this in a total 'arse about face' fashion, we will probably never see privately owned scooters legalised anytime.
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