Forum Topic

E-scooters and legal use

Reading the report on this sites news page and one wonders if our Council are from another dimension.Have none of these people seen what is already going on out in the streets of this borough?There are E scooter users riding with 2 people, riding on pavements, roads, in the dark, hooded,, no lights. often no refelective gear at all, or safety gear, riding along with dogs. Then riding with ear plugs and by the nature of the design completely unable to use hand signals or look behind them without losing control.70 years nearly of RoSPA and it's come down to this - just to suit a trend wave?Now a shop selling these and marketing towards pre- provisional licence age young people is to open in Northfields Ave.Yet on the BBC a report states that riding these is still illegal.Its so twisted that cameras and  all means of enforcement can be deployed against fully insured and tested road users and yet not for people who clearly break the law, show not road sense for themselves or for others, pedestrians or road users.This current behaviour underlines the fact that users cannot be trusted so clear and effective regulations have to be in place.HGV and PCV drivers go through hell and risk losing their livelihoods if involved with a cyclist accident. They are treated as though guilty before any evidence or investigations are completed.Even when found completely not at fault, they are pilloried on social media.  yet very little ever mentioned of the victim if it was in the event their fault. Or if it was neither parties actual fault.But one is not insured, tested, retested and trained.  The other is not.And those supporting all this remain very deft at avoiding the facts and the real problems and issues.RoSPA , set up to bring safer use of roads for ALL road users has been completely swept aside and this is slamming all the advances and changes that they have brought about. Wholly irresponsible to the point of arrogant stupidity.                

Raymond Havelock ● 1239d7 Comments

I would happily support 15mph for cars in smaller residential streets rather than LTNs.But I always fining it bizarre that if driving in Richmond Park and staying under 20mph, Cyclists overtake from both sides and at speed.Partly I'm jealous as I never could and still can't sustain riding a bike that fast. 200m at most!And 40 odd years Cycling Local still can't really manage the hilly bits of Ealing without turning up at destination looking like I've gone via a deep Ford!But speeding anything in the wrong conditions or circumstances is a pain.One of the biggest problems on the CS routes in town are speeding cyclists intimidating and abusing those who don't ( or can't) and thats not helped by the inherent instability of slow heavy hire bikes and badly balanced riders with rucksacks.  Panniers are a great help in that respect, less so when its wet or slippery.

Raymond Havelock ● 1237d

I do find it bizarre that e-scooters are so openly and widely on sale. And they have ridiculously high top speeds when ridden on pavements. My bike computer tells me I generally do about 12mph on the level (never on the pavement!) yet these e-scooters can do 15mph and there seems to be zero enforcement. Why not limit them to 10mph? That would reduce the danger enormously.

Eric Baker ● 1238d

Let's hope the 'legal' rented scooters will be brightly coloured and have a bold company name on them, so then we can easily recognise the 'illegal' black ones and engage their riders in comradely conversation and explain the error of their ways - or something like that!

Peter Evans ● 1238d

Spare a thought for Bus Drivers in particular who have the responsibility of many passengers and have now to deal with a nightmare of hazards. Mainly because of sheer stupidity which is not being tackled.They are now also  'leaned on' by management and their union if they raise issues of safety caused by other road users and changes.All comes from TfL who seem to be turning on their own bus operations. Radiating from their rather one sided and bias board appointments of late.

Raymond Havelock ● 1238d

It's also not much fun these days being a pedestrian.  Despite all the blocked-off roads I encounter more pavement cyclists (and scooterists!) than ever before - and I mean adults, not small children on bikes.  Several using the pavement in Junction Road the other evening.They ride in such a way that it's quite clear that they don't give a stuff about people on foot - and they know they can do it with impunity.

Alison Robins ● 1238d

Ditto.  It is so difficult being a car driver these days.  :(

Sarah Felstead ● 1239d

Absolutely correct Raymond, my observations are similar.

Chris Dakers ● 1239d