One of the TIER hire ones shot past me the other day on the pavement. If he'd have collided, I'd have gone flying. There is NO reason IMHO to do up to 20mph on pavements just because some humans are too darned lazy to walk.
So how about a 100% import tax, make them unfeasibly expensive?. That £500 escooter just doubled in price. And as they're motorised, a mandatory training course (££), licence (even more £££), regular testing say, every 5 years? (more ££££). I think they should be top-tier cost wise. If you crave 'convenience (ie your laziness means you need a magic platform to avoid walking but you're menacing peds & cyclists), then pay £££ for it.
Mandatory training is a must, we've just had two mono-directional segregated cycle lanes installed here in Bristol. Just wide enough for a bike, no dividing dashed line, one up, one down either side of the street and what did I witness recently?....escooter going up on the right, against traffic flow. Good job cyclists weren't coming down. Escooter riders don't seem to understand the term mono-directional, to them, 'its a space mate, I just ride in it' (I've had 'em coming towards me in LHS painted lanes...good grief!).
I should add lets restrict their speed to say, under 10mph with tough penalties for overclocking?. In fact, lets restrict them to the same speed as disabled buggies?...that should put a few off if they're deemed too slow. We've got a right problem here with yoof on souped up emotorbikes racing around, don't want to add escooters doing 40mph to that. People buy these for 'convenience' ie, no need for walking/cycling/taking a bus because I can't be bothered. Laziness should be expensive.
) registered and have speedos its not practical for scooters, just as its not practical for bicycles!
