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[Fedster + 1,307]

Police and Crime Commissioners have set themselves on a collision course with ministers over the public trials of e-scooters. One has called for a halt after a spate of incidents.

Date - 24th May 2021
By - Chris Smith

The controversial trials to allow e-scooters on public roads has led to a spike in anti-social behaviour, according to PCCs and their forces.

A spike in incidents, including a drunk-driving conviction, has led to calls for the national pilot scheme to be halted.

Kent’s PCC Matthew Scott has called on Transport Secretary Grant Shapps to halt the trials of the battery-powered scooters which are banned outside of the pilot scheme locations.

Around 7,500 of the scooters can be hired from tech firms across England. The firms are hoping they will become the answer to city travel.

But elsewhere they remain illegal on public roads.

Concern is mounting from forces and their PCCs that the vehicles are being increasingly used for anti-social behaviour and crime. They are also concerned that the public think they can be ridden anywhere.

More than 800 incidents have been reported to local authorities  taking part and 122 users have been banned from the trials due to their conduct.

In Whitehaven, which has 80 of the vehicles on trial, a rider was convicted for drink driving after an incident. The rider was banned from driving for 16 months and fined £200.

Cumbria Police said: "The introduction of e-scooters in Whitehaven Town Centre has seen several calls to police relating to anti-social use of them.

"On April 17 a 20-year-old woman was arrested and charged with an offence due to being drunk whilst riding an E-Scooter."

The force’s Police and Crime Commissioner Peter McCall backed his force’s action.

He said: “The legislation for hiring an e-scooter is the same as if hiring a car, and people using them must follow the rules and regulations for using a vehicle on a public highway or they may be awarded penalty points on their driving licence, a fine or be disqualified from driving.”

But another has already had enough of the pilot scheme in his area.

Canterbury is running a trial which the tech firms – and their private equity backers – hope will attract students and tourists.

Kent’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Matthew Scott, warned the Department for Transport needed to stop before it loses control of England’s streets. 

He added traffic teams shouldn’t be left to pick up the pieces.

He said: “Inconsiderate riders are becoming a menace on our roads and pavements, ignoring the law and causing dangers for other road users.

“We urgently need decisive action now on their future, as we’re in danger of losing control of the issue and placing additional burdens on policing.”

He called for the government and retailers to act.

 “Too many people are using them in places they shouldn’t and we need to stop them being bought for young people,” he said.

 “There should be no more roll outs until work is done with retailers, manufacturers and the public to make sure they are safe and people understand the law.” 

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[Dave SYP + 2,963]

I wouldn’t dream of taking one out on a public road and I think those that do are at the best, very misguided. The potential for the rider to sustain injury or even death is very high. They are very large toys which should be kept OFF the public highway. Remember the Sinclair C5 anyone? 

[BlueBob + 701]

@Dave SYP +in part I agree. I’m not sure people are full aware of the injury potential both to themselves and others.  I can see the benefits of them when used responsibly and that is the challenge.  Perhaps managing that could be shared with those hiring them out until some clear rules, training and enforcement are sorted.  But surely that’s the purpose of a trial.  I can’t imagine the trial areas did not expect some adverse issues so really should not be too surprised.

[Zulu 22 + 4,642]

I live in an area which is not a trial area. In the last 3 days I have seen 2 of these e scooters being ridden on the road and on the footpath.  They are a danger to the users and to other road users and more importantly pedestrians. The whole concept is badly thought out.

[Dave SYP + 2,963]

Where I live there is barely enough room on public roads for death wish cyclists and motorists! To introduce another mode of transportation for another section of the population is madness.
 

The public transportation system is broken and needs fixing to become a service again, not a business to line the pockets of fat cat executives. Silly one way systems in city centres which snarl traffic flow, are designed only for buses and impact on shops needs reviewing. I could go on.......

We are literally at breaking point with the volume of traffic on our roads and something has to give. We have already squeezed the quart into the pint pot.  Do any of the transportation surveyors or planners ever see rush hour traffic? The use of the Emergency Lane or hard shoulder on the motorway is a prime example of their buffoonery!  Rant over.

 

[BlueBob + 701]

5 hours ago, Zulu 22 said:

I live in an area which is not a trial area. In the last 3 days I have seen 2 of these e scooters being ridden on the road and on the footpath.  They are a danger to the users and to other road users and more importantly pedestrians. The whole concept is badly thought out.

On this basis, we'd have to say that we would have banned cars and motorcycles before they became too popular.  Surely its the users who dictate how well or badly the mode of transport is being used!  Unfortunately some users are numpties.

[Dave SYP + 2,963]

41 minutes ago, BlueBob said:

On this basis, we'd have to say that we would have banned cars and motorcycles before they became too popular.  Surely its the users who dictate how well or badly the mode of transport is being used!  Unfortunately some users are numpties.

I agree about ‘numpties’ you’ll always have them 🙄 But my point is that we really are at breaking point already on our urban roads and to add this oversized children’s toy to the mix is utter madness. It’s a perfect storm and if implemented, I predict that hospitals, RTC investigators  and funeral directors will be kept fairly busy.

[Zulu 22 + 4,642]

3 hours ago, Dave SYP said:

I agree about ‘numpties’ you’ll always have them 🙄 But my point is that we really are at breaking point already on our urban roads and to add this oversized children’s toy to the mix is utter madness. It’s a perfect storm and if implemented, I predict that hospitals, RTC investigators  and funeral directors will be kept fairly busy.

We have to remember that these scooters are completely silent, until they hit someone.  The point about numpties is well made, but, the problem there is that there appears to be an increase in the Gene pool to produce more numpties. They appear to be prolific breeders.

Edited May 26, 2021 by Zulu 22

[BlueBob + 701]

3 hours ago, Dave SYP said:

I agree about ‘numpties’ you’ll always have them 🙄 But my point is that we really are at breaking point already on our urban roads and to add this oversized children’s toy to the mix is utter madness. It’s a perfect storm and if implemented, I predict that hospitals, RTC investigators  and funeral directors will be kept fairly busy.

Ah, so because the roads are full, the best option is to ignore smaller transport and promote the continuance of the larger ones!  Good logic.   In the right place, I can see some benefits of these.  What I don’t really support is they way there are being introduced.   

[Zulu 22 + 4,642]

9 minutes ago, BlueBob said:

Ah, so because the roads are full, the best option is to ignore smaller transport and promote the continuance of the larger ones!  Good logic.   In the right place, I can see some benefits of these.  What I don’t really support is they way there are being introduced.   

In fairness the roads are full because local authorities bring in, so called, traffic calming measures. They introduce, elbows, speed humps and turn 4 lane roads into two lane roads, causing congestion and extra pollution. We all know that a vehicle is most polluting driven at low speeds and under constant acceleration and braking.  I have a Hybrid and if I drive though a town at 30 mph I can record 70mpg but, if I am constantly slowing and accelerating for the traffic calming measures that mpg drops to around 22.

Of the two I have seen locally both were ridden by people under 25 years, and both were being ridden on roads and up footpaths almost colliding with pedestrians. 

[BlueBob + 701]

20 minutes ago, Zulu 22 said:

 

Of the two I have seen locally both were ridden by people under 25 years, and both were being ridden on roads and up footpaths almost colliding with pedestrians. 

So statistically 100% of e-scooter users break the law🙈

[Dave SYP + 2,963]

36 minutes ago, BlueBob said:

Ah, so because the roads are full, the best option is to ignore smaller transport and promote the continuance of the larger ones!  Good logic.   In the right place, I can see some benefits of these.  What I don’t really support is they way there are being introduced.   

Not what I’m advocating at all. I would welcome promotion of smaller and safe micro cars and safer motorcycles. These scooters on urban roads will be a dangerous menace to the riders and other road users alike. Have you bought one then Bob?😁