[Technology] Electric Scooters - Road Trials

[m20gull]

Had them here for 2 summers. I ride one a few times per week. They're great.... But also a nightmare.

If everyone respects the environment and puts them back where they should be, rides sensibly in bike lanes or on suitable roads they're amazing. Much better than waiting for a bus.

But the reality is that people leave them everywhere, ride them like idiots and give their credit card details to their 12 year old children so they can use them. Also car drivers in my experience don't respect the riders as they would a regular cyclist, let alone another car.

So be prepared. You'll hate them unless you're riding one.

There are enough here already to hate them. We have a 20mph High Street (with speed bumps so the limit is well kept by most vehicles) so why they feel the need to ride them on the pavement at speed is beyond me. On the road they seem safe enough. Whether I would ride one without a helmet though...

 

[zefarelly]

Responsible riders I'm all for, stupid twunts not so much.

Thisis the crux of the matter for all transportation.

What ever happened to the cycling proficiency test ?

Maybe the scooters should be licensed, a CBT on a scooter before being released on the roads. 3rd party Insurance too.

 

[Super Steve Earle]

Thisis the crux of the matter for all transportation.

What ever happened to the cycling proficiency test ?

Maybe the scooters should be licensed, a CBT on a scooter before being released on the roads. 3rd party Insurance too.

I've still got my Cycling Proficiency Test certificate as well as my Knights of the Road certificate.

 

[zefarelly]

I've still got my Cycling Proficiency Test certificate as well as my Knights of the Road certificate.

Good work

Queasy rider patch?

 

[GT49er]

In favour, as long as they are subject to the same rues of the highway code as bikes - stop at red lights, keep to the left, don't go the wrong way up one-way streets and keep off the pavement - and these rules should be rigidly enforced (and they should be for bikes too).

In addition, I'd suggest compulsory lights and an audible warning device, a speed limit (15mph perhaps?), a lower age limit, and perhaps a requirement to have passed the driving theory test.

 

[Arthur]

Had them here for 2 summers. I ride one a few times per week. They're great.... But also a nightmare.

If everyone respects the environment and puts them back where they should be, rides sensibly in bike lanes or on suitable roads they're amazing. Much better than waiting for a bus.

But the reality is that people leave them everywhere, ride them like idiots and give their credit card details to their 12 year old children so they can use them. Also car drivers in my experience don't respect the riders as they would a regular cyclist, let alone another car.

So be prepared. You'll hate them unless you're riding one.

I think it depends on the environment.

My office is on the olympic park and we have had Bird for a long time. They can only be returned to their parking spots else you keep getting charged for them which at 20p a minute you wouldn't want to leave it for too long. I've not found them annoying at all, cyclist are far more annoying when they don't use the cycle lanes.

However there is tons of room out there. Can see it being a nightmare in town centres and when the cheap ones come out good luck commuting just like the morons who want to get on packed trains with their fold up bikes.

 

[studio150]

Restrict to 15mph, improve scooter lighting, fully encourage helmet and bright colour clothing, treat as a bicycle for pavements, public footpaths etc.
Drink driving and mobile phone use to apply then happy to see a trial.

 

[hart's shirt]

2:30, 4:55 and 11:50.

 

[Soton Seagull]

In cycle lanes makes sense, but they need to be able to signal not just glide across as that is where a lot of the danger is; particuarly when they have headphones in and seem oblivious. I know the same could be said for many cyclists (I am a relatvely well behaved one but see plenty of poor behaviour from pedestrians/cyclists/motorists)

 

[beorhthelm]

Restrict to 15mph, improve scooter lighting, fully encourage helmet and bright colour clothing, treat as a bicycle for pavements, public footpaths etc.
Drink driving and mobile phone use to apply then happy to see a trial.

sums up as treat like bicycles, with addition of strictly enforced* speed restriction (say 15-20mph). its notable all the objections pretty much apply to bicycles.
doesnt need a trial, it needs the legislation amended to allow any low speed, single person motorised vehicles on roads without licencing. rather than this silly problem coming up with every fad vehicle.

*confiscation for over limit, fines for sellers. simple and effective, if there's no market for speedy options they wont sell them.

 

[Sirnormangall]

Brilliant idea - a new cohort of road user for me to shout and rant at.

 

[LamieRobertson]

Cant see another thread on this subject and given the time that has passed ….the number of different specs that are now available…even at places like Halfords …i wondered if peoples views had changed

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Restrict to 15mph, improve scooter lighting, fully encourage helmet and bright colour clothing, treat as a bicycle for pavements, public footpaths etc.
Drink driving and mobile phone use to apply then happy to see a trial.

So you can ride on the pavement and when actually on the road ignore red lights? All this and NO road tax. I’m in.

 

[theboybilly]

In favour, as long as they are subject to the same rues of the highway code as bikes - stop at red lights, keep to the left, don't go the wrong way up one-way streets and keep off the pavement - and these rules should be rigidly enforced (and they should be for bikes too).

In addition, I'd suggest compulsory lights and an audible warning device, a speed limit (15mph perhaps?), a lower age limit, and perhaps a requirement to have passed the driving theory test.

Your first paragraph applies just as much to car drivers who are by far the largest group of offenders

 

[GT49er]

Your first paragraph applies just as much to car drivers who are by far the largest group of offenders

Not really. Car drivers don't usually use the pavements, ot drive the wrong way up one-way streets or ignore red traffic lights. Occasionally it happens - there are indeed some bad drivers on the road, or car thieves running from the police, but it is not the norm. For a large number* of cyclists, it is the norm. Besides, if a car driver does it as routinely as many cyclists do, he/she will lose his/her licence and will be banned from driving - so generally drivers don't do it.

* Please note: I said 'large number' because it is a fact - you and I have both seen it numerous times. Not all, not even most (possibly), but just a large number.

 

[zefarelly]

pavements are for pedestrians

if you want to use propulsion, of ANY kind, get on the road, and you must have some form of proficiency test to be there and have 3rd party insurance.

 

[Gabbafella]

No need to pass a test that ensures the user knows the highway code and no license to ensure they abide by it?
no insurance for when they inevitably damage someone's car?
Probably no enforceable need for safety wear.
It has roadside death written all over it.

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

Cant see another thread on this subject and given the time that has passed ….the number of different specs that are now available…even at places like Halfords …i wondered if peoples views had changed

I think they're an awesome way of getting around. I'm saving up for one

 

[LamieRobertson]

I think they're an awesome way of getting around. I'm saving up for one

Do you worry about getting stopped by the police and having it confiscated? (When you’ve bought one obviously )

 

[LamieRobertson]

No need to pass a test that ensures the user knows the highway code and no license to ensure they abide by it?
no insurance for when they inevitably damage someone's car?
Probably no enforceable need for safety wear.
It has roadside death written all over it.

Just out of interest do you feel the same way about cyclists?