E Scooters soon to be allowed on UK roads?
Discussion
okgo said:
The ones in Germany have suspension which makes even cobbles ok.
15.5mph is faster than most people cycle, and cycling is allowed on roads
so I should think it will be fine.
Cobbles are a bit different to pot-holed roads. Cycles are much more stable than a scooter, with more efficient suspension. Using a scooter around here at 15.5mph, on the roads we have, would carry a big risk of being flung into the path of vehicles. 15.5mph is faster than most people cycle, and cycling is allowed on roads
so I should think it will be fine.They would be much more suitable to a cycle path but we dont have many of those across the country.
PAULJ5555 said:
I find it strange that to drive a car on the roads you have to learn the highway code and sit a test on it.
On a bike/scooter you are more exposed to injury but dont need to have a helmet or even know what a traffic light does.
Now you've done it. They'll be here soon to put you straight. On a bike/scooter you are more exposed to injury but dont need to have a helmet or even know what a traffic light does.
PAULJ5555 said:
I find it strange that to drive a car on the roads you have to learn the highway code and sit a test on it.
On a bike/scooter you are more exposed to injury but dont need to have a helmet or even know what a traffic light does.
It's about not putting barriers in the way or discouraging cycling. There is a delicate balance. On a bike/scooter you are more exposed to injury but dont need to have a helmet or even know what a traffic light does.
On the one hand you have the fatality/injury rates and the associated costs together with the cost of infrastructure for what is a relatively small percentage of journeys, in terms of distance. Even fewer when it's not replacing journeys that, otherwise, would take place in a vehicle.
However where it does replace them it's of some benefit, this with the overall benefit of the additional exercise mean that on balance the benefits outweigh the downsides. If they did not exist and were invented tomorrow it would be a different story.
I get abused but I am pretty sure some restrictions are coming.
Stopping on a bike is much easier than a scooter. People can run at 15mph their stopping distance is even greater.
I don't think they should be allowed purely on health grounds, this nation is obese enough as it is if you take walking out of the equation then some people will get no exercise.
I commute along the Southbank by foot sometimes from Waterloo to Blackfriars station and you get t
ts going full speed expecting pedestrians to move over.
I've already witnessed a kid fly down the high street on one last summer who was then killed further up the road (hit a bustop iirc)
I commute along the Southbank by foot sometimes from Waterloo to Blackfriars station and you get t
ts going full speed expecting pedestrians to move over.I've already witnessed a kid fly down the high street on one last summer who was then killed further up the road (hit a bustop iirc)
Graveworm said:
PAULJ5555 said:
I find it strange that to drive a car on the roads you have to learn the highway code and sit a test on it.
On a bike/scooter you are more exposed to injury but dont need to have a helmet or even know what a traffic light does.
It's about not putting barriers in the way or discouraging cycling. There is a delicate balance. On a bike/scooter you are more exposed to injury but dont need to have a helmet or even know what a traffic light does.
On the one hand you have the fatality/injury rates and the associated costs together with the cost of infrastructure for what is a relatively small percentage of journeys, in terms of distance. Even fewer when it's not replacing journeys that, otherwise, would take place in a vehicle.
However where it does replace them it's of some benefit, this with the overall benefit of the additional exercise mean that on balance the benefits outweigh the downsides. If they did not exist and were invented tomorrow it would be a different story.
I get abused but I am pretty sure some restrictions are coming.
Stopping on a bike is much easier than a scooter. People can run at 15mph their stopping distance is even greater.
What health benefits of standing still on a scooter when the electric motor does the work. Cycling is a different ball game.
untakenname said:
I don't think they should be allowed purely on health grounds, this nation is obese enough as it is if you take walking out of the equation then some people will get no exercise.
I commute along the Southbank by foot sometimes from Waterloo to Blackfriars station and you get tts going full speed expecting pedestrians to move over.
I've already witnessed a kid fly down the high street on one last summer who was then killed further up the road (hit a bustop iirc)
Actually this is really good news for my wife who cant pedal a bike and is too young to use a traditional mobility scooter, her disability prevents her legs moving sufficiently well enough to ride a bike these days sadly and she can't walk far unaided. She already has one of these that she uses when we take the dogs for a walk, she creeps along at walking pace but it has the advantage of being able to deal with rougher terrain! I commute along the Southbank by foot sometimes from Waterloo to Blackfriars station and you get t
ts going full speed expecting pedestrians to move over.I've already witnessed a kid fly down the high street on one last summer who was then killed further up the road (hit a bustop iirc)
Great idea, three regulations needed:
- 15 mph top speed.
- Not on pavements (i.e. same as bicycle).
- Designated parking areas if a rental scooter.
The last point is the most important, in my travels its the chaotic ubiquity of these things that annoys pedestrians and locals. In the City of London rental bicycles (non Boris) have designated areas you leave them, else you get hit with a hefty fine (relative to the cost of hire). The is evidenced by the the rider taking a photo on the app of the parked bike in its space once the hire is over.
- 15 mph top speed.
- Not on pavements (i.e. same as bicycle).
- Designated parking areas if a rental scooter.
The last point is the most important, in my travels its the chaotic ubiquity of these things that annoys pedestrians and locals. In the City of London rental bicycles (non Boris) have designated areas you leave them, else you get hit with a hefty fine (relative to the cost of hire). The is evidenced by the the rider taking a photo on the app of the parked bike in its space once the hire is over.
PAULJ5555 said:
Graveworm said:
PAULJ5555 said:
I find it strange that to drive a car on the roads you have to learn the highway code and sit a test on it.
On a bike/scooter you are more exposed to injury but dont need to have a helmet or even know what a traffic light does.
It's about not putting barriers in the way or discouraging cycling. There is a delicate balance. On a bike/scooter you are more exposed to injury but dont need to have a helmet or even know what a traffic light does.
On the one hand you have the fatality/injury rates and the associated costs together with the cost of infrastructure for what is a relatively small percentage of journeys, in terms of distance. Even fewer when it's not replacing journeys that, otherwise, would take place in a vehicle.
However where it does replace them it's of some benefit, this with the overall benefit of the additional exercise mean that on balance the benefits outweigh the downsides. If they did not exist and were invented tomorrow it would be a different story.
I get abused but I am pretty sure some restrictions are coming.
Stopping on a bike is much easier than a scooter. People can run at 15mph their stopping distance is even greater.
What health benefits of standing still on a scooter when the electric motor does the work. Cycling is a different ball game.
Dog Star said:
Having been to quite a few places where these things are legal - and indeed there are rental ones lined up you rent with an app (Cracow for example) - they seem great. A lot of people use them right in front of the police in Gibraltar too, despite them being as illegal as in the UK. Personally I'd quite like one, but not until legal and I won't even try one on a public road as if you got an arsey copper it's bye-bye licence (add up all the offences for C&U etc plus no insurance).
We won't see rental e-scooters in the UK I don't think - they'll be stolen in days and council estates will be full of them, once the tracking etc bits have been ripped out. And that's my main concern with them - Britain's feral youth. Town centres will be hell on earth with kids whizzing round on these. Could be a bad move.
First came across these rental type scooters in Miami at Christmas time just passed there and found myself thinking exactly the same. We won't see rental e-scooters in the UK I don't think - they'll be stolen in days and council estates will be full of them, once the tracking etc bits have been ripped out. And that's my main concern with them - Britain's feral youth. Town centres will be hell on earth with kids whizzing round on these. Could be a bad move.
An excellent way of getting about and super convenient - however its a massive shame that the British public in general cannot be trusted to use such things without fear of the above kinda scenarios.
We're back in Miami soon, and im looking forward to takign advantage of these scooters for getting us about where we need to be.
Seeing them out and about already.... let it happen officially and help get people out of cars...
I was in Zagred over New Year and they were everywhere, no issues with pedestrians or other motorists, they used them with courtesy and common sense...
Same thing in Nice when I was there in October, again no issues with other road users...
The only problem in this country will be the lack of common sense and courtesy being applied....
I was in Zagred over New Year and they were everywhere, no issues with pedestrians or other motorists, they used them with courtesy and common sense...
Same thing in Nice when I was there in October, again no issues with other road users...
The only problem in this country will be the lack of common sense and courtesy being applied....
In Paris they are an absolute plague. Even though there are laws and local bylaws there is zero enforcement.
They are riden by complete idiots at high speed on the pavements, sometimes 2 up. They are literally dumped all over the place usually blocking a pavement etc. The ones who ride down the middle of the road are usually dressed in black with the smallest of red lights visible at ankle height. When I says middle of the road I also mean around the Arc de Triomphe.
They are riden by complete idiots at high speed on the pavements, sometimes 2 up. They are literally dumped all over the place usually blocking a pavement etc. The ones who ride down the middle of the road are usually dressed in black with the smallest of red lights visible at ankle height. When I says middle of the road I also mean around the Arc de Triomphe.
Abbott said:
In Paris they are an absolute plague. Even though there are laws and local bylaws there is zero enforcement.
They are riden by complete idiots at high speed on the pavements, sometimes 2 up. They are literally dumped all over the place usually blocking a pavement etc. The ones who ride down the middle of the road are usually dressed in black with the smallest of red lights visible at ankle height. When I says middle of the road I also mean around the Arc de Triomphe.
You mean, exactly like cars do on round the Arc? They are riden by complete idiots at high speed on the pavements, sometimes 2 up. They are literally dumped all over the place usually blocking a pavement etc. The ones who ride down the middle of the road are usually dressed in black with the smallest of red lights visible at ankle height. When I says middle of the road I also mean around the Arc de Triomphe.
Seesure said:
Seeing them out and about already.... let it happen officially and help get people out of cars...
I was in Zagred over New Year and they were everywhere, no issues with pedestrians or other motorists, they used them with courtesy and common sense...
Same thing in Nice when I was there in October, again no issues with other road users...
The only problem in this country will be the lack of common sense and courtesy being applied....
How long were you over there 2 days/2weeks. To really undertand them you need to be on the streets daily for a good lengh of time, did you survey the pedestrians to get their view, there may have been issues on other streets but you didnt see them. I was in Zagred over New Year and they were everywhere, no issues with pedestrians or other motorists, they used them with courtesy and common sense...
Same thing in Nice when I was there in October, again no issues with other road users...
The only problem in this country will be the lack of common sense and courtesy being applied....
I totally agree about this country and the lack of common sense and courtesy - thats without the chavs getting hold of them e.g the rise of kids doing a wheelie down the middle of the road.
Edited by PAULJ5555 on Wednesday 29th January 15:45
I could see me using one of these for a lot of local journeys, as a previous cyclist I'd definitely be wearing a helmet whether a legal requirement or not as I've had too many near misses due to not being seen. I can see it being a fun way to get about weather permitting.
I think they should be given access to cycle lanes, not used on pavements.
I've seen these used in London on a number of occasions when I've been working down there so it feels somewhat like legislation catching up with what people are already doing anyway.
I think they should be given access to cycle lanes, not used on pavements.
I've seen these used in London on a number of occasions when I've been working down there so it feels somewhat like legislation catching up with what people are already doing anyway.
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