E Scooters soon to be allowed on UK roads?
Discussion
Now live in London, though only really the most affluent part of town for now, Chelsea, South Ken, Holland Park and up to Notting Hill. I could be waiting a while in South London 
ETA - oh, seems its only a few boroughs at the mo, more shortly - https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/electric-sc...
ETA - oh, seems its only a few boroughs at the mo, more shortly - https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/electric-sc...
Edited by okgo on Tuesday 8th June 10:17
eldar said:
Now they've solved knife crime, they can crack down of on the real criminals going around reducing their carbon footprint.
The Paris modal shift findings are the opposite, if people move from active travel (cycling, walking, push scooters etc) or public transport to e-scooters it's increasing their carbon footprint whilst not improving congestion. At the same time, in the active travel cases, it's having a negative health impact, which I suppose is why we are having trials. It's only if they replace car or motorcycle journeys there is a positive. The transport committee recommendation was based mostly on poor people not being able to learn to drive, Deliveroo etc (Who are now starting to use e-bikes). and it being quicker in some cases - not really on environment benefits. Edited by Graveworm on Tuesday 8th June 10:57
I don't think I've ever seen one being used on the roads unless it's to randomly swerve into the road to cross it at some undesignated point.
Granted I don't live in the square mile but I've never seen one ridden courteously, they're the new chav transport of choice if they can't afford a 5kw ebike.
Granted I don't live in the square mile but I've never seen one ridden courteously, they're the new chav transport of choice if they can't afford a 5kw ebike.
ChocolateFrog said:
I don't think I've ever seen one being used on the roads unless it's to randomly swerve into the road to cross it at some undesignated point.
Granted I don't live in the square mile but I've never seen one ridden courteously, they're the new chav transport of choice if they can't afford a 5kw ebike.
A few guys on the trading floor in London had them. They definitely weren’t unable to afford an ebike.Granted I don't live in the square mile but I've never seen one ridden courteously, they're the new chav transport of choice if they can't afford a 5kw ebike.
Northernboy said:
A few guys on the trading floor in London had them. They definitely weren’t unable to afford an ebike.
They represent a totally different entity to a bike too, IMO. A bike is useless unless you're always going to be on or near it (hence it works well for deliveroo guys). You can't leave anything of value outside without being able to see it or it will get stolen. You also need storage for a bike at work, even an e-bike might require one to need to shower etc too. These scooters require none of that, you can take one into a pub, restaurant, under your desk, you won't sweat at all thus negating a shower etc. Obviously they are still a bit heavy, but it's more like a Brompton than an e-bike. Obviously you could buy an E-Brompton, but at 500 quid vs £3200 and having to maintain it, I can see why one of these would appeal.Obviously when they are everywhere in town as of next month I can see these really taking off, especially for those of us who live in Z1/2 and those who come from further afield at a terminal station - makes good sense to use one of these to get from Paddington/Marylebone/Waterloo etc to your work vs piss about with tubes/buses and the stress and cost that incurs.
You're lucky then, I've only seen them being used by feral kids, on and off pavements, at speed, and with no consideration to pedestrians or other road users.
So far, for me, it's not car users, taking up the green option, it's kids that would otherwise be walking or cycling, or probably not going out at all.
I can see the benefits in cities with more space and commuting, but any speed restriction will be overridden immediately, like it is with e-bikes.
So far, for me, it's not car users, taking up the green option, it's kids that would otherwise be walking or cycling, or probably not going out at all.
I can see the benefits in cities with more space and commuting, but any speed restriction will be overridden immediately, like it is with e-bikes.
the tribester said:
You're lucky then, I've only seen them being used by feral kids, on and off pavements, at speed, and with no consideration to pedestrians or other road users.
So far, for me, it's not car users, taking up the green option, it's kids that would otherwise be walking or cycling, or probably not going out at all.
I can see the benefits in cities with more space and commuting, but any speed restriction will be overridden immediately, like it is with e-bikes.
That’s not really an issue though if they are being used on the roads. We don’t limit bikes, cars, taxis buses or vans, so why hobble scooters?So far, for me, it's not car users, taking up the green option, it's kids that would otherwise be walking or cycling, or probably not going out at all.
I can see the benefits in cities with more space and commuting, but any speed restriction will be overridden immediately, like it is with e-bikes.
Lots more near me and sure, one sees the odd dimwit/kid. On the main cycle lane along Lea Bridge Rd there seem to be more escooters than bikes. Although I have my own I'm going to check out the hire ones in the City of London.
Whatever the official health affects its git to be better than using the tube!
Whatever the official health affects its git to be better than using the tube!
Northernboy said:
That’s not really an issue though if they are being used on the roads. We don’t limit bikes, cars, taxis buses or vans, so why hobble scooters?
Interesting question. A thoroughly eco means of transport, cheap, easy and convenient for everyone. It really brings the luddite and fear of change doom bringers out in force.
In my rural locality they are commonplace now the sun is shining. Kids with them, people scooting the mile to the shop, no problem.
I think there will be challenges in stopping them now.
eldar said:
Interesting question. A thoroughly eco means of transport, cheap, easy and convenient for everyone.
It really brings the luddite and fear of change doom bringers out in force.
In my rural locality they are commonplace now the sun is shining. Kids with them, people scooting the mile to the shop, no problem.
I think there will be challenges in stopping them now.
The genie is out of the bottle now, and I can't see how the government, or more specifically the Transport Committee, can backtrack on their suggestion that privately owned e-scooters should be allowed on public roads.It really brings the luddite and fear of change doom bringers out in force.
In my rural locality they are commonplace now the sun is shining. Kids with them, people scooting the mile to the shop, no problem.
I think there will be challenges in stopping them now.
The dithering, muttering, and indecision continues though, with this statement being made 4 weeks ago by the Department for Transport: "To ensure we get the most comprehensive evidence from trials, including those that have started more recently, the end date for trials has been extended to 31 March 2022"
I have no idea what they are playing at.
eldar said:
Interesting question. A thoroughly eco means of transport, cheap, easy and convenient for everyone.
It really brings the luddite and fear of change doom bringers out in force.
In my rural locality they are commonplace now the sun is shining. Kids with them, people scooting the mile to the shop, no problem.
I think there will be challenges in stopping them now.
An 'eco' 'means of transport...apart from the batteries, charging, etc. It really brings the luddite and fear of change doom bringers out in force.
In my rural locality they are commonplace now the sun is shining. Kids with them, people scooting the mile to the shop, no problem.
I think there will be challenges in stopping them now.
The world has gone mad. People too lazy to ride a bike a mile, or walk (gasp). I'm sure Darwin will have its say in 'stopping' people on these bloody daft pieces of transport
eldar said:
Interesting question. A thoroughly eco means of transport, cheap, easy and convenient for everyone.
It really brings the luddite and fear of change doom bringers out in force.
In my rural locality they are commonplace now the sun is shining. Kids with them, people scooting the mile to the shop, no problem.
I think there will be challenges in stopping them now.
I think that they need some major improvements still. They weigh a tonne, the wheels are too small, and visibility remains an issue, but they’ll get there. It really brings the luddite and fear of change doom bringers out in force.
In my rural locality they are commonplace now the sun is shining. Kids with them, people scooting the mile to the shop, no problem.
I think there will be challenges in stopping them now.
ddom said:
An 'eco' 'means of transport...apart from the batteries, charging, etc.
The world has gone mad. People too lazy to ride a bike a mile, or walk (gasp). I'm sure Darwin will have its say in 'stopping' people on these bloody daft pieces of transport
But it’s not laziness. I’m happy to put in some good mikes on a bike at the weekend, but when I hop off the train in my suit I don’t want to.The world has gone mad. People too lazy to ride a bike a mile, or walk (gasp). I'm sure Darwin will have its say in 'stopping' people on these bloody daft pieces of transport
Northernboy said:
I think that they need some major improvements still. They weigh a tonne, the wheels are too small, and visibility remains an issue, but they’ll get there.
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