E Scooters soon to be allowed on UK roads?

[untakenname]

Used some rental scooters whilst in Barcelona, seemed ok but must be subsidised by private equity as there's no way per mile it makes sense.
There's been quite a few RTA's Europe and police confiscate dump scooters.

[MB140]

Oh dear

E-scooter rider given ban for drink-driving on Isle of Wight https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-55...

My only argument with this is that someone with no car licence has nothing to lose.

[eldar]

MB140 said:

Oh dear

E-scooter rider given ban for drink-driving on Isle of Wight https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-55...

My only argument with this is that someone with no car licence has nothing to lose.

Interesting. Do drink drive rules apply to electric bicycles?

[NikBartlett]

MB140 said:

Oh dear

E-scooter rider given ban for drink-driving on Isle of Wight https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-55...

My only argument with this is that someone with no car licence has nothing to lose.

Or will the ban only start if/when you get one ? It'll make a mess of your car insurance too. I guess if they can get you for drink driving on one of these then riding around on one when stoned or off your face is also going land you in hot water ?

[monthou]

eldar said:

Do drink drive rules apply to electric bicycles?

No more than to non-electric bicycles.

[andburg]

https://www.facebook.com/sypoperationalsupport/pos...

M1, Sheffield:
Just when we think we've seen it all...
Numerous calls from drivers reporting somebody riding up the M1 on an e-scooter!
Pitch black, raining, poor visibility = a recipe for disaster.
Rider reported & removed from network, scooter seized for no insurance. 🤦🏻‍♂️

[surveyor_101]

monthou said:

No more than to non-electric bicycles.

All the UK schemes (as far as I know) require you to be 16 and hold a provisional as a minimum, you register and are tracked for you time.


To ride a bike there is no such requirement, also as the scooters are classed electric vehicles so are treated more like a car and so drink driving laws apply.

Thats if they are on a DFT share scheme.


For a push bike>

The maximum penalty for cycling whilst under the influence of drink or drugs is a £1,000 fine. This is also the case for careless or inconsiderate cycling. The maximum penalty for dangerous cycling is a £2,500 fine.

.

[techguyone]

NikBartlett said:

MB140 said:

Oh dear

E-scooter rider given ban for drink-driving on Isle of Wight https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-55...

My only argument with this is that someone with no car licence has nothing to lose.

Or will the ban only start if/when you get one ? It'll make a mess of your car insurance too. I guess if they can get you for drink driving on one of these then riding around on one when stoned or off your face is also going land you in hot water ?

Offences like this go on a 'ghost' driving licence, so if for example it's someone who doesn't have a driving licence or is too young for one, the points go on, and are suspended until/if the driving licence goes live, then it applies.

Might be a bummer for the tttish 14-16 yr olds who take the pee when it comes to bite them later on in life when they grow up.

I'd expect drink & drug 'driving' offences to be high up as uninsured driving wouldn't count.

[CanAm]

NikBartlett said:

MB140 said:

Oh dear

E-scooter rider given ban for drink-driving on Isle of Wight https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-55...

My only argument with this is that someone with no car licence has nothing to lose.

Or will the ban only start if/when you get one ? It'll make a mess of your car insurance too. I guess if they can get you for drink driving on one of these then riding around on one when stoned or off your face is also going land you in hot water ?

The article says that the Hiring App requires you to enter your licence details, so she probably did have a licence in this case. It’s always possible that one of her drinking partners actually hired it.

[MB140]

techguyone said:

NikBartlett said:

MB140 said:

Oh dear

E-scooter rider given ban for drink-driving on Isle of Wight https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-55...

My only argument with this is that someone with no car licence has nothing to lose.

Or will the ban only start if/when you get one ? It'll make a mess of your car insurance too. I guess if they can get you for drink driving on one of these then riding around on one when stoned or off your face is also going land you in hot water ?

Offences like this go on a 'ghost' driving licence, so if for example it's someone who doesn't have a driving licence or is too young for one, the points go on, and are suspended until/if the driving licence goes live, then it applies.

Might be a bummer for the tttish 14-16 yr olds who take the pee when it comes to bite them later on in life when they grow up.

I'd expect drink & drug 'driving' offences to be high up as uninsured driving wouldn't count.

Problem with sticking the points on a ghost licence is that it then encourages people to not bother getting a licence because as soon as they pass there test they are effectively banned for having 6 points already. So why bother going to the significant expense of getting a licence to be banned straight away. just carry on/start driving without a licence straight away.

So in this instant I think points on a ghost are a waste of time. Just slap them with a huge community service penalty. That way your wealth is irrelevant. The thought of having to do community service would be more of a punishment/embarrassment than a fine.

As for the hiring app and being 16. That only works with the rental scheme. I’d wager the fast majority of these on the road aren’t even rented.

[monthou]

surveyor_101 said:

All the UK schemes (as far as I know) require you to be 16 and hold a provisional as a minimum, you register and are tracked for you time.
To ride a bike there is no such requirement, also as the scooters are classed electric vehicles so are treated more like a car and so drink driving laws apply.
Thats if they are on a DFT share scheme.

For a push bike>
The maximum penalty for cycling whilst under the influence of drink or drugs is a £1,000 fine. This is also the case for careless or inconsiderate cycling. The maximum penalty for dangerous cycling is a £2,500 fine.

You need to be 14 to ride an ebike, but no licence needed.
There's no requirement to submit to a breathalyser on a pushbike or ebike. And if you refuse it can't be held against you.
No specified alcohol limit.
You'd have to try pretty hard to get convicted on a bicycle / ebike, and even if you were the consequences (of the conviction itself) would be minor (as per your post).

[anonymous-user]

monthou said:

surveyor_101 said:

All the UK schemes (as far as I know) require you to be 16 and hold a provisional as a minimum, you register and are tracked for you time.
To ride a bike there is no such requirement, also as the scooters are classed electric vehicles so are treated more like a car and so drink driving laws apply.
Thats if they are on a DFT share scheme.

For a push bike>
The maximum penalty for cycling whilst under the influence of drink or drugs is a £1,000 fine. This is also the case for careless or inconsiderate cycling. The maximum penalty for dangerous cycling is a £2,500 fine.

You need to be 14 to ride an ebike, but no licence needed.
There's no requirement to submit to a breathalyser on a pushbike or ebike. And if you refuse it can't be held against you.
No specified alcohol limit.
You'd have to try pretty hard to get convicted on a bicycle / ebike, and even if you were the consequences (of the conviction itself) would be minor (as per your post).

Just bear in mind, that whilst there isn't an alcohol limit as such while riding a bicycle nor is there a specific penalty of disqualification, Magistrates do have the power to disqualify you from driving a motor vehicle for any offence, and that includes riding a bicycle while intoxicated.

So yes, you can lose your driving licence for riding a bicycle while drunk. This is likely to be rare, but people should be aware that it can happen.

As for the eScooters Vs bicycles:
Bicycle and eBike: It's a bicycle. You are only subject to cycling laws.
eScooter: It's a 'vehicle'. You are subject to many of the laws that apply to vehicles.

Completely stupid, but what else would you expect from our government? We are 5-10 years behind everyone else when it comes to legislating for new ideas such as electric scooters.

[anonymous-user]

PF62 said:

jakesmith said:

Mine has 10” pneumatic wheels perfectly suitable for use on roads

So you have an unusual one. Great. Most don't.

jakesmith said:

Plenty of cyclists squashed under trucks with far larger wheels not sure why you think that’s a factor?

Duh, because hitting one of the many potholes on a bike is not great, on a normal e-scooters with the dinky wheels then it is 'squish'

jakesmith said:

Plenty of cities using these scooters already without major issues

You mean like those cities who had to suspend the rental schemes because the users were behaving like tts riding the on the pavement rather than risking death on the road.

I think the arguments and 'bad press' around eScooters are, to a large extent, fruitless.

I could be wrong, but ultimately what will happen is:

1) eScooters will soon be legalised for private ownership/use on the public highway, and they will likely be subject to similar laws as bicycles.

2) Loads of people will buy them, as they offer an extremely cheap and convenient method of getting around urban areas and commuting.

3) People will be killed on them, squared by lorries, and ride them on the pavements, the same as what happens with bicycles right now.

4) The deaths and pavement riding will not make any difference to anything, and they will remain a popular method of transport, especially as range, handling, and ride comfort continues to improve.

5) Car/Lorry/Bus drivers will just have to accept that they now share the roads with scooters, and it will be their job not to squash people if they can possibly help it.

6) Life will continue and everyone will get used to driving on the roads surrounded by all manner of new electric vehicles and new kinds of personal electric transport devices.

I think that covers it?

[unident]

Lord Marylebone said:

I think the arguments and 'bad press' around eScooters are, to a large extent, fruitless.

I could be wrong, but ultimately what will happen is:

1) eScooters will soon be legalised for private ownership/use on the public highway, and they will likely be subject to similar laws as bicycles.

2) Loads of people will buy them, as they offer an extremely cheap and convenient method of getting around urban areas and commuting.

3) People will be killed on them, squared by lorries, and ride them on the pavements, the same as what happens with bicycles right now.

4) The deaths and pavement riding will not make any difference to anything, and they will remain a popular method of transport, especially as range, handling, and ride comfort continues to improve.

5) Car/Lorry/Bus drivers will just have to accept that they now share the roads with scooters, and it will be their job not to squash people if they can possibly help it.

6) Life will continue and everyone will get used to driving on the roads surrounded by all manner of new electric vehicles and new kinds of personal electric transport devices.

I think that covers it?

If you’re being honest, that’s what you hope will happen in the main, (the bit about people being squashed isn’t hoped for obvs)

[anonymous-user]

unident said:

Lord Marylebone said:

I think the arguments and 'bad press' around eScooters are, to a large extent, fruitless.

I could be wrong, but ultimately what will happen is:

1) eScooters will soon be legalised for private ownership/use on the public highway, and they will likely be subject to similar laws as bicycles.

2) Loads of people will buy them, as they offer an extremely cheap and convenient method of getting around urban areas and commuting.

3) People will be killed on them, squared by lorries, and ride them on the pavements, the same as what happens with bicycles right now.

4) The deaths and pavement riding will not make any difference to anything, and they will remain a popular method of transport, especially as range, handling, and ride comfort continues to improve.

5) Car/Lorry/Bus drivers will just have to accept that they now share the roads with scooters, and it will be their job not to squash people if they can possibly help it.

6) Life will continue and everyone will get used to driving on the roads surrounded by all manner of new electric vehicles and new kinds of personal electric transport devices.

I think that covers it?

If you’re being honest, that’s what you hope will happen in the main, (the bit about people being squashed isn’t hoped for obvs)

I'm not hoping for anything either way to be honest.

I sold my bicycle a while ago due to lack of use, I don't own an eScooter, and I tend to drive quite a lot, mostly for work.

I'm merely suggesting what I think is going to happen. As a car driver, I'm fully prepared to share the roads with all manner of new or eco-friendly forms of transport, and I don't see the point in moaning about it.

I could certainly be tempted by an eScooter if/when they become legal for private use on a public road, but again, I wouldn't be upset if this never happened.

There are car drivers moaning about having to share the roads with other users on new-fangled contraptions, and I just don't see the point in complaining. I think it is coming whether I or they like it or not. The future will be electric and very different, and we are witnessing it happening right before our eyes.

(and yes, I hope no one gets squashed)

[monthou]

Lord Marylebone said:

Just bear in mind, that whilst there isn't an alcohol limit as such while riding a bicycle nor is there a specific penalty of disqualification, Magistrates do have the power to disqualify you from driving a motor vehicle for any offence, and that includes riding a bicycle while intoxicated.

So yes, you can lose your driving licence for riding a bicycle while drunk. This is likely to be rare, but people should be aware that it can happen.

I'm aware of that from reading past forum posts.
Has it ever happened though? My google fu isn't up to finding an example.
I'd guess if it has it's not someone who's ridden home after a couple of pints.

[Dyffed]

The week before Xmas I was out having a walk one afternoon with my wife .We live in Petts Wood an outer London suburb. Most of it is quite quiet but gets busy as you get close to the shopping area. As we walked along the pavement in the direction of the shops we were overtaken by two e scooters. These were at this time being ridden on the road. The first scooter was being ridden by a male. The second was being ridden by a female .( I know this next bit is a little hard to believe )But balanced in front of the female was a child aged about 3 years of ageThe child had its arms reaching up with its hands holding on to the handlebars. About 20 yards ahead was a drop in the payment at the entrance to a church car park. The female used the drop to join the pavement and continued along the pavement and round the corner where we lost sight of the riders. Im not aware of any e scooter hire firms in the area so my guess they would be private owners.I would estimate that the scooters were travelling at about 10miles an hour. It has to be one of the most irresponsible things Ive seen on the road for a long time.

[eldar]

You clearly don't get out much

[Dyffed]

15521 Posts. and I don't get out much ?

[anonymous-user]

Dyffed said:

15521 Posts. and I don't get out much ?

He has a point though.

If I saw a woman riding along on a scooter at 10mph with a small child as a passenger, it wouldn't even come anywhere near my Top 10 of "most irresponsible things I have seen on the road for a long time".