E-scooters to be allowed on public roads

[captain nemo1701]

In general, I think the people that use the eScooters and eBikes appear to be of the younger generation who never drove to work anyway hence no reduction in traffic generally. We have a scooter and bike parking area just around the corner from me in Filton and it is mostly UWE or SGS College students that hire them.

I'm all for the younger generation getting on bikes but escooters to me, are transport for lazy people avoiding walking or pedaling. So when they get older.....I recall reading a comment from a doctor who said that it'll store up problems for the future eg. a generation who never walk or cycle but rely entirely on escooters . Little wonder we have an obesity problem as a nation. The other week I saw a news report about kids today texting etc so much on mobile phones, they've lost the 'art' of having a conversation by phone.....

 

[wiggydiggy]

I'm all for the younger generation getting on bikes but escooters to me, are transport for lazy people avoiding walking or pedaling. So when they get older.....I recall reading a comment from a doctor who said that it'll store up problems for the future eg. a generation who never walk or cycle but rely entirely on escooters . Little wonder we have an obesity problem as a nation. The other week I saw a news report about kids today texting etc so much on mobile phones, they've lost the 'art' of having a conversation by phone.....

The film Wall-E does contain a vision of the future for those people

 

[mjr]

I'm all for the younger generation getting on bikes but escooters to me, are transport for lazy people avoiding walking or pedaling. So when they get older.....I recall reading a comment from a doctor who said that it'll store up problems for the future eg. a generation who never walk or cycle but rely entirely on escooters . Little wonder we have an obesity problem as a nation. The other week I saw a news report about kids today texting etc so much on mobile phones, they've lost the 'art' of having a conversation by phone.....

There's a worse threat to health: I understand there are even vehicles now where people don't even expend energy balancing at all, and just sit in a big chair while the motor propels them in a box on four wheels, gassing nearby people and covering the area with dust(!) 🤡

 

[classic33]

There's a worse threat to health: I understand there are even vehicles now where people don't even expend energy balancing at all, and just sit in a big chair while the motor propels them in a box on four wheels, gassing nearby people and covering the area with dust(!) 🤡

And those vehicles can be legally used on the roads when the driver/rider is insured and the the vehicle is taxed, insured and registered to use on the road.
Private E-scooters aren't a legal road vehicle, in the UK at this time. Unless the rider has a helmet, to motorbike standards, insurance(driver and vehicle) and the E-scooter registered and carrying the numberplate as to be visible from the rear.

 

[FishFright]

And those vehicles can be legally used on the roads when the driver/rider is insured and the the vehicle is taxed, insured and registered to use on the road.
Private E-scooters aren't a legal road vehicle, in the UK at this time. Unless the rider has a helmet, to motorbike standards, insurance(driver and vehicle) and the E-scooter registered and carrying the numberplate as to be visible from the rear.

So the choice is legal filth strewing, under occupied , overweight cars or illegal clean and quiet single person transport.

Compelling

 

[Drago]

Compelling

Yep. A gentle stroll it is.

 

[FishFright]

Yep. A gentle stroll it is.

Or , god forbid , a bike ride !

 

[icowden]

So the choice is legal filth strewing, under occupied , overweight cars or illegal clean and quiet single person transport.

To be fair, the only reason that the illegal quiet single person transport isn't legal is because successive governments have failed to legislate to bring the Road Traffic Act into the 21st century. They aren't illegal because the Government wants them so, they are illegal because the Government isn't bothered to lay down some new rules for electrically propelled modes of transport.

Part of that is probably because no matter what they do, a group of people will complain.

 

[classic33]

To be fair, the only reason that the illegal quiet single person transport isn't legal is because successive governments have failed to legislate to bring the Road Traffic Act into the 21st century. They aren't illegal because the Government wants them so, they are illegal because the Government isn't bothered to lay down some new rules for electrically propelled modes of transport.

Part of that is probably because no matter what they do, a group of people will complain.

To be completely fair, if you want to use a private e-scooter legally, it just requires registering, taxing and insuring. Then the rider needs to insured to ride it. And wear the safety equipment relevant to that class of vehicle.

The problem is people don't want to do what the law requires them to. In many respects they're the same as those who drive a vehicle without the required paperwork.

 

[icowden]

To be completely fair, if you want to use a private e-scooter legally, it just requires registering, taxing and insuring. Then the rider needs to insured to ride it. And wear the safety equipment relevant to that class of vehicle.

To be completely fair you should recognise that that approach is pointless and moronic. You wouldn't expect an e-bike capable of 15mph to require registering, taxing, insuring, a license plate and a motorcycle helmet. People buying e-scooters, e-wheels or whatever would expect similar treatment.

The horse has long gone and the stable door is flapping in the wind. The only problem area is in the deregulated devices which are dangerous. The Police don't bother nicking people for travelling on an e-scooter at 10mph sensibly (although in London they have confiscated the odd e-wheel thingy).

 

[classic33]

To be completely fair you should recognise that that approach is pointless and moronic. You wouldn't expect an e-bike capable of 15mph to require registering, taxing, insuring, a license plate and a motorcycle helmet. People buying e-scooters, e-wheels or whatever would expect similar treatment.

The horse has long gone and the stable door is flapping in the wind. The only problem area is in the deregulated devices which are dangerous. The Police don't bother nicking people for travelling on an e-scooter at 10mph sensibly (although in London they have confiscated the odd e-wheel thingy).

An e-bike or an EPAC(Which under UK law is an electrically assisted pedal cycle). The first is illegal, the second legal on the roads.
Like it or not the law has kept pace with the technology, just there's a majority who can't be bothered keeping things legal.

E-scooters are sold with the disclaimer that their use on public roads is illegal. So you're knowingly buying something you can't use. Granted, the notices aren't always that visible, but they are there.

 

[icowden]

An e-bike or an EPAC(Which under UK law is an electrically assisted pedal cycle). The first is illegal, the second legal on the roads.
Like it or not the law has kept pace with the technology, just there's a majority who can't be bothered keeping things legal.

It really hasn't.

According to current UK law, the Road Traffic Act of 1988 is considered not fully up-to-date regarding electric scooters, as it classifies them as "motor vehicles" under its definition, meaning that riding a privately owned e-scooter on public roads is illegal due to the lack of required insurance and licensing, despite being drafted before the widespread existence of e-scooters; however, the legal framework does apply to them as they are considered "powered transporters" under the Act.

Further , the Government has confirmed that the laws need updating:
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/...t-committee-transport-secretary-b2646309.html

Transport Secretary Louise Haigh has indicated the Government intends to legalise the use of private e-scooters on public roads.
The Cabinet minister said introducing regulations for e-scooters is “clearly required”.

 

[Alex321]

To be completely fair, if you want to use a private e-scooter legally, it just requires registering, taxing and insuring. Then the rider needs to insured to ride it. And wear the safety equipment relevant to that class of vehicle.

Since none of those are acvtually possible, you aren't being even slightly "fair" by saying it.

The problem is people don't want to do what the law requires them to. In many respects they're the same as those who drive a vehicle without the required paperwork.

People CANNOT use them in a public place while doing "what the law requires" - apart from the cities with "trial" schemes.

 

[Alex321]

An e-bike or an EPAC(Which under UK law is an electrically assisted pedal cycle). The first is illegal, the second legal on the roads.

Only if you define an "e-bike" as something different to what the majority of people would define it.

E-bike has no defined meaning, and EPACs clearly come within what most people would understand by the term.

Like it or not the law has kept pace with the technology, just there's a majority who can't be bothered keeping things legal.

Simply false.

It hasn't, and the ministers responsible agree it hasn't.

E-scooters are sold with the disclaimer that their use on public roads is illegal. So you're knowingly buying something you can't use. Granted, the notices aren't always that visible, but they are there.

True.

Which again makes the point that your previous post was false.

 

[Drago]

If driven sensible and responsibly the e scooters is a wonderful alternative for those too lazy to walk.

Sadly the grest British public have proven time and time again that when an opportunity arises to pinch an inch they'll happily take a mile. They simply can't be trusted.