E-Scooter discussion after fatal collision

[Freddie1980]

So these e-scooters can only legally be ridden on private land and anyone caught ridding them on roads, cycle lanes or the pavement are doing it illegally. And what's with the issue on insurance from the above Police tweet? If you can't ride these on public highways then why would you need cover?

 

[Hotwired]

So these e-scooters can only legally be ridden on private land and anyone caught ridding them on roads, cycle lanes or the pavement are doing it illegally. And what's with the issue on insurance from the above Police tweet? If you can't ride these on public highways then why would you need cover?

First thing on the list of issues they felt like typing out probably.

100% motorised vehicle therefore not allowed on pavement and requires the documentation to be on the road, insurance is one of those.

I think cambs police site writes it out well and mentions the other motorised vehicles on the list with electric scooters. Like mini motos.

https://www.cambs.police.uk/information-and-services/Road-safety/Motorised-vehicles

 

[Moomalade]

I ride an e-scooter everyday, have done so for the last 18 months with zero incidents. Now I feel like my morning commute will potentially turn into a scenario from Smokey and The Bandit as I dodge down side streets to avoid the fuzz. What a load of arse.
You know a law is complete ******** when multitudes of normally law abiding citizens just decide '**** that, this is obviously a good form of transport'.
Much like the archaic drug laws, I expect the UK will continue to look like the primitive dum dum with regards modernising legislation.

 

[singularity]

The laws look perfectly sensible to me.
Old people and people with todlers don't expect motorised vehicles on the pavement. Even cyclists shouldn't be there.

 

[Moomalade]

The laws look perfectly sensible to me.
Old people and people with todlers don't expect motorised vehicles on the pavement. Even cyclists shouldn't be there.

Who said anything about scooting on the pavement?
Most people who are being stopped are on the road according to the e-scooter facebook group I'm on.
In any case, regardless of the current legality, it's obvious this is a fantastic form of transport, indeed potentially the future of urban mobility.
If it wasn't for all us early pioneering outlaws, there wouldn't even be a conversation about having the laws changed. So if/when that does happen and in time the roads and congestion are immeasurably improved - your welcome!

 

[Hotwired]

I ride an e-scooter everyday, have done so for the last 18 months with zero incidents. Now I feel like my morning commute will potentially turn into a scenario from Smokey and The Bandit as I dodge down side streets to avoid the fuzz. What a load of arse.
You know a law is complete ******** when multitudes of normally law abiding citizens just decide '**** that, this is obviously a good form of transport'.
Much like the archaic drug laws, I expect the UK will continue to look like the primitive dum dum with regards modernising legislation.

But either the seller misinformed you or you knew about the legality so can't actually complain about the police enforcing a law which was there well beforehand.

 

[Moomalade]

But either the seller misinformed you or you knew about the legality so can't actually complain about the police enforcing a law which was there well beforehand.

An archaic law that the police were not in the least bit interested in enforcing as they knew it was nonsense. As evidenced by the numerous times I passed them in the street without incident the past 18 months. This current crackdown is all because of the media hysteria surrounding a minor celebrity death.

As I mention above, there's a reason countless normally law abiding citizens decide sod that and take to the roads on this environmentally friendly device. They know, and the police know, that it's a winner in the long run. But now that's all changed because the general public are all up in arms because media have told them we're a menace to society and the police have to be seen to do something about it.
Hopefully it'll blow over and common sense returns.

 

[Wzd]

But either the seller misinformed you or you knew about the legality so can't actually complain about the police enforcing a law which was there well beforehand.

This is why the law needs to move with the times. What's more worrying is they're currently putting far more police effort (when they're already having funding cuts) into stopping escooters rather than more serious laws breakers, lets say knife crime. Which is far more rampant and dangerous to the public in UK cities.

 

[Junglist]

An archaic law that the police were not in the least bit interested in enforcing as they knew it was nonsense. As evidenced by the numerous times I passed them in the street without incident the past 18 months. This current crackdown is all because of the media hysteria surrounding a minor celebrity death.

As I mention above, there's a reason countless normally law abiding citizens decide sod that and take to the roads on this environmentally friendly device. They know, and the police know, that it's a winner in the long run. But now that's all changed because the general public are all up in arms because media have told them we're a menace to society and the police have to be seen to do something about it.
Hopefully it'll blow over and common sense returns.

I see I think about 4 different people on escooters, someone on an electric skateboard looking thing with one wheel and I know my friend, and now me, have electric unicycles. I do think they're going to be popular and cheap ways to commute going forwards.

 

[Dis86]

This is why the law needs to move with the times. What's more worrying is they're currently putting far more police effort (when they're already having funding cuts) into stopping escooters rather than more serious laws breakers, lets say knife crime. Which is far more rampant and dangerous to the public in UK cities.

Lol, any facts to back those bold claims up?

 

[TheVoice]

What's more worrying is they're currently putting far more police effort (when they're already having funding cuts) into stopping escooters rather than more serious laws breakers, lets say knife crime.

Care to evidence that bafflingly absurd claim? Follow any of the MPS borough accounts on Twitter and you'll see how many knives and other weapons they're removing from the streets daily. Contrary to ignorant belief, the police can actually deal with multiple different types of crime of varying severity at the same time. A rise in knife crime doesn't mean the Road Traffic Act ceases to be enforced.

 

[dowie]

If it wasn't for all us early pioneering outlaws

(Granted I do think we're a bit regressive with regards to new forms of transport)

 

[Wzd]

Care to evidence that bafflingly absurd claim? Follow any of the MPS borough accounts on Twitter and you'll see how many knives and other weapons they're removing from the streets daily. Contrary to ignorant belief, the police can actually deal with multiple different types of crime of varying severity at the same time. A rise in knife crime doesn't mean the Road Traffic Act ceases to be enforced.

Do you write for the Daily Mail? I didn't claim any of that

Get back on topic, the point I was trying to make is there are better uses of the police than setting up road blocks and fining/confiscating peoples transport as they try to commute to/from work in a clean less polluting and congesting way. The current law is out dated and it's long over due for change.

 

[Dis86]

Do you write for the Daily Mail? I didn't claim any of that

What's more worrying is they're currently putting far more police effort (when they're already having funding cuts) into stopping escooters rather than more serious laws breakers, lets say knife crime. Which is far more rampant and dangerous to the public in UK cities.

Yes you did. Right there. Do you have dementia?

 

[Moomalade]

(Granted I do think we're a bit regressive with regards to new forms of transport)

Heh, I know that was a slightly extreme moniker, I was just rolling on my Smokey and the Bandit theme
I'm imagining my first absurd duck and dive chase whilst on my way to work, low camera angles, blustering cops jackknifing their squad car, waving fists in the air as I make my escape.

 

[TheVoice]

Do you write for the Daily Mail? I didn't claim any of that

You might want to reset your account password then because it appears somebody else did.

 

[Hotwired]

What's archaic about a law which insists that motorised vehicles are properly documented on the highway and should not be on pavements.

Sounds pretty solid and I can't see that changing.

If raised out of 100% illegal I'd expect a specific category would be created which enforces standards and behaviour and probably documentation.

As was raised earlier, disability scooters are not illegal and indeed have a special category which allows them to be on the road or pavement. With the correct documentation.
https://www.tgamobility.co.uk/help-advice/guides/are-mobility-scooters-allowed-on-road

Similar has been done for ebikes. Except that was as simple as gluing a bit onto existing bike law just like the motor onto the bike.

 

[b0rn2sk8]

I don't think anyone is asking to ride them on pavements, just like no one should be riding bikes on a pavement. Bike lanes and roads are more than fine with similar rules to e-bikes or cycling in general (aka 250W and don't be a menace).

 

[Hilly]

You can hire Bird scooters around the Olympic Park in Stratford. Obviously you're only limited to traveling around the park itself cause it's private land

Rubbish, there's nothing quite like weaving in and out of stationary traffic, after half a dozen pints with no helmet to make you feel really alive

Took a bird this afternoon back from a bar to the supermarket; The other main ones are circ and Tier; I'd say Lime wasn't as popular as the other three

 

[Wzd]

You might want to reset your account password then because it appears somebody else did.

When did I say knives weren't being removed from the streets, or the police couldn't deal with multiple crimes, or levels of knife crime had any effect of road law enforcement...those were all your words. What I did say is they're wasting police resources that could be better used elsewhere, and knife crime was "an example" of many.