E-scooters

" Since they arrived in France, more than 15 people have died in the streets, victims of e-scooters.”

Fuck me, now I'm terrified. Something must be done...

Surely its a good idea if gets people out of cars as TBH I would rather get hit by a e - scooter when I'm cycling than a car but I agree there needs to be regulation as scooters doing 90 kmh is just plan crazy.

Surely its a good idea if gets people out of cars

As Oliver says the effect will probably be different to this assumption - they will get people off public transport, walking, and even bikes, or be used to connect the final section of a public transport journey, again replacing walking.

most of the people i've seen riding e-scooters are doing short journeys that would have been done on foot previously - possibly replacing the only physical exercise they were getting previously.
people should be encouraged to walk the last mile of a journey, not be effortlessly transported there.

or be used to connect the final section of a public transport journey

That's what I mostly used my Brompton for. Are they equally bad?

Is it an NJS build? If not yes, obvs.

Had a bloke almost hit me from behind this morning in the connecting tunnel from the Victoria line to the Piccadily line in King's Cross as he glided along on his e-scooter.

I guess that counts as private land? Completely legit.

Illegal unless the landowner has granted permission.

I’m finding the electric motorbikes more dangerous than the little scooters. Fly past at 40mph in silence.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/mar/16/electric-scooters-get-green-light-to-go-on-britains-public-roads

Electric scooters will be allowed on public roads for the first time under a Department for Transport proposal which will consult on the rules required to allow the new technology to operate safely, the government has announced.

The legalisation of e-scooters is just one proposal in a wider plan to enable a “transport revolution”, which also involves projects to trial medical deliveries to the Isle of Wight using autonomous drones, and a test of self-driving cars between Bristol and Bath.

But the scooters, which are already in widespread, if unlawful, use across the UK, will initially only be allowed in four “future transport zones”: Portsmouth and Southampton; the West of England Combined Authority (WECA); Derby and Nottingham; and the West Midlands.

Does this mean un-assisted (throttle) eBikes are now legal?

Nothing has changed yet and we will need to wait for the legislation to see what the detail is.

My prediction is that this will mean mandatory helmets, cyclists included.

next up, number plates and insurance

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/jun/20/rented-e-scooters-ride-to-the-rescue-of-english-commuters-as-covid-lockdown-eases

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-53219331

Hired, corporate E-scooters to be legalised for road use, but privately owned ones won't.

I can't imagine police putting much effort into stopping non-hire ones.

Although in London I guess it will probably end up like the dockless hire bikes did with different councils permitting different schemes so they can only be parked in limited areas.

Just put stickers on your privately owned one to look like a hire one, solved.

I've noticed a lot more e-scooters flying around in Bristol over the 'lockdown' period. So quiet but also pretty fast. I'm sure peds stepping out in front of them will become an issue soon.

Most people riding them appear to be wear socks and Nike sliders which I imagine are pretty useless to protecting their toes if a crash were to happen.

Another anecdote for the list. The other day I was doing some laps of Regents in the evening, cruising along just above 20mph and some dude on a fancy looking scooter went flying past, must have been doing 25mph+.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/rental-e-scooter-trials-to-be-allowed-from-this-weekend

Users will need a full or provisional car, motorcycle or moped licence to take part in the trials, and must be 16 or over.

I used to work in Bristol up until last year. Two people in the office had e-scooters. Both from very different demographics, but both have the same fuck you, I come first attitude.
Early adopters.

Thanks. That's even more stupid than I feared. Simply the wrong idea (my views on e-scooters are in the first three posts in this thread).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_gOqLI6MA8

60mph, street clothing with minor armour, street tracks... what's the worst that can happen?