Electric scooters ?

Scrapit

Grumpy_chap said:

It seems as though the horse has bolted with the electric scooters because they are so cheap as to be readily available that they are becoming a common sight.  If they are now legalised, they can be done in a way that there are rules set out for their safe use which is not possible when any use is illegal.  The other alternative is to keep them illegal and have a stringent campaign of enforcement to drive them to the skip.

I realise that legalising something just because it is a regularly broken law is fundamentally flawed and cannot be applied universally.  That is why I gave the option of enforcing the current prohibition.

The same thing never happened with Segways because the price point was much higher which prevented the type of mass take-up that the scooters have achieved.

Yep, and the fact that they were stupid but the company owners did want to make them kosher and had a bit of clout. Either way its not a for gone conclusion even though it is probably too late, cats outta the bag 

[Deleted User]

Car_54 said:

Deleted_User said:

foxy-stoat said:

venomx said:

lordmountararat said:

A young lad shot out in front of me yesterday on one of these lethal electric scooters. I didn't have the opportunity to remind him that riding these wretched things is only legal on private land. If the government does change the law, I hope it insists on age limits, helmet, insurance and training.

No different from riding a push bike like an idiot though ?

Or a car for that matter, only difference is you have someone to claim off when the numpty hits you.

Not sure how many people have been killed on an E-Scooter, think there was 1 a few months ago - a lot more people die in "legal" cars driven "legally".  Around here as long as your not riding like an idiot, wear high vis and crack hat then the police seem not to bother.  One chap I know with one got stopped and they let him go on his way as they were only worried if it was a petrol scooter.  Not sure if their attitude has changed since.

the problem is with random people on bikes (not cyclists)

Dictionary definition: cyclist = a person who rides a bicycle

Am I missing something?

Yes, it's a very simple concept, so easy to understand the Dutch have 2 words for it -

fietser - a random on a bike e.g. a 12 year old going to their friend's house, granddad popping down to the shops etc. Generally will just wear any old clothes, maybe rides an e-bike, uses the bike for utility

wielrenner - a person who takes cycling seriously e.g. in a club, does it as a hobby or even seriously (racing for example). Wears cycling clothes - which may be lycra though allowing for MTB off-road wear on their way home etc

A cyclist will frequently be in a club or at least a member of something like British Cycling so has liability insurance, understand the road, be experienced and so on. A random a bike is highly unlikely to have any such cover, may have limited experience on the bike etc. A kid who rides into your car trying to pop a wheelie for example, you suck it up and claim on your insurance. A cyclist in a collision you can see what third party liability cover they may have

Car_54

Deleted_User said:

Car_54 said:

Deleted_User said:

foxy-stoat said:

venomx said:

lordmountararat said:

A young lad shot out in front of me yesterday on one of these lethal electric scooters. I didn't have the opportunity to remind him that riding these wretched things is only legal on private land. If the government does change the law, I hope it insists on age limits, helmet, insurance and training.

No different from riding a push bike like an idiot though ?

Or a car for that matter, only difference is you have someone to claim off when the numpty hits you.

Not sure how many people have been killed on an E-Scooter, think there was 1 a few months ago - a lot more people die in "legal" cars driven "legally".  Around here as long as your not riding like an idiot, wear high vis and crack hat then the police seem not to bother.  One chap I know with one got stopped and they let him go on his way as they were only worried if it was a petrol scooter.  Not sure if their attitude has changed since.

the problem is with random people on bikes (not cyclists)

Dictionary definition: cyclist = a person who rides a bicycle

Am I missing something?

Yes, it's a very simple concept, so easy to understand the Dutch have 2 words for it -

fietser - a random on a bike e.g. a 12 year old going to their friend's house, granddad popping down to the shops etc. Generally will just wear any old clothes, maybe rides an e-bike, uses the bike for utility

wielrenner - a person who takes cycling seriously e.g. in a club, does it as a hobby or even seriously (racing for example). Wears cycling clothes - which may be lycra though allowing for MTB off-road wear on their way home etc

A cyclist will frequently be in a club or at least a member of something like British Cycling so has liability insurance, understand the road, be experienced and so on. A random a bike is highly unlikely to have any such cover, may have limited experience on the bike etc. A kid who rides into your car trying to pop a wheelie for example, you suck it up and claim on your insurance. A cyclist in a collision you can see what third party liability cover they may have

The Dutch may have two words, but we are not Dutch. English has one word, and it is not within the power of a self-selecting group to kidnap it and impose their own definition.

FWIW I am a pedestrian, a driver, and an (occasional) cyclist.

alykhalil1

hi all

hope you all are great and keeping safe ? 

sorry this may be off the subject or not the right thread....i have several illnesses like, diabetes, liver cirrhosis, blood disorders, cervical spine, asthma, ocular hypertension ,  and lots more....list goes on...

I was thinking of giving my car up and buy 1 of those electric scooters which will help me reduce my outgoings.....

can anyone please help or suggest to me what would be the right decision ? or how can i find find one of the seating electric scooters ?

i thank you all again and kind regards. AK

Grumpy_chap

alykhalil1 said:

hi all

hope you all are great and keeping safe ? 

sorry this may be off the subject or not the right thread....i have several illnesses like, diabetes, liver cirrhosis, blood disorders, cervical spine, asthma, ocular hypertension ,  and lots more....list goes on...

I was thinking of giving my car up and buy 1 of those electric scooters which will help me reduce my outgoings.....

can anyone please help or suggest to me what would be the right decision ? or how can i find find one of the seating electric scooters ?

i thank you all again and kind regards. AK

This would probably be better as a new thread, but I don't think there is sufficient information provided to allow anyone to comment in a meaningful way.

By "electric scooter" I assume you mean electric moped, not the type of scooter that is an electric version of a skateboard with handlebars.  AFAIUI, the latter is not authorised for use in public spaces - an area where legislation is behind reality.

noitsnotme

Grumpy_chap said:

alykhalil1 said:

hi all

hope you all are great and keeping safe ? 

sorry this may be off the subject or not the right thread....i have several illnesses like, diabetes, liver cirrhosis, blood disorders, cervical spine, asthma, ocular hypertension ,  and lots more....list goes on...

I was thinking of giving my car up and buy 1 of those electric scooters which will help me reduce my outgoings.....

can anyone please help or suggest to me what would be the right decision ? or how can i find find one of the seating electric scooters ?

i thank you all again and kind regards. AK

By "electric scooter" I assume you mean electric moped, not the type of scooter that is an electric version of a skateboard with handlebars.  AFAIUI, the latter is not authorised for use in public spaces - an area where legislation is behind reality.

Beryl stand on scooters are available for hire in public spaces in various towns and cities - https://beryl.cc/news/beryl-e-scooters-join-the-family

In my neck of the woods it is a partnership with the local council.  The scooters are positioned all over the town in various spots - just on pavements in designated areas (green painted squares).  You just book one, use it for the time booked and then leave it wherever.  There are teams that drive round locating them and returning them to the green squares.

Apparently you need a driving licence to make the booking but a friends son, aged 12, was given access to one by his friends dad (the dad booked it and then let the kids use it).

photome

https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/teacher-wounded-near-yarmouth-escooter-hit-and-run-7917602

AdrianC

Jack_Cork said:

AdrianC said:

There was a consultation over the summer...
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/legalising-rental-e-scooter-trials-defining-e-scooters-and-rules-for-their-use/legalising-rental-e-scooter-trials

And a trial started yesterday
https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/news/trial-legal-e-scooter-rental-4567490 

It's worth noting that those trials are still the only legal use for e-Scooters, except on private land. The trials are scheduled to be 12 months, with the potential for extension.

The trials treat the scooters as "motor vehicles", legally, so a driving licence is a legal requirement to use them, not just proof of ID to book them. The father mentioned above was committing an offence, as were his children.
LC20 - Driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence - for the kids, on DVLA ghost records created for them, same as any other non-UK-licence-holder committing a road traffic offence.
LC24 - causing or permitting - for the father.
3-6 points each.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/e-scooter-trials-guidance-for-local-areas-and-rental-operators/e-scooter-trials-guidance-for-local-areas-and-rental-operators

custardy

Car_54 said:

Jackmydad said:

I've got a feeling that once this scooter thing is out of the box, and it appears that it already is, then it's going to be pretty hard to put back in there.
And whether you license these things, apply laws to them, actually apply the laws that are already in place to them, or just let people get on with it, then you're still going to have a percentage of idiots.
Look at bikes, and for that matter cars and any other vehicle.
A small percentage ignore the rules.

Agreed. But at least most drivers have read and been tested on the rules.

Cyclists and scooterists haven't.

May havent. Like so many you seem unable to grasp people can use multiple modes of transport.