Like it’s even stopping anyone at this point, see so many private ones out and about.
They are a nightmare on the roads (and pavement), government and councils desperately need to invest in some designated cycle/scooter paths.
And not these bullshit white lines that people park over and drive in constantly.
It stops a lot of people. Unfortunately, they are also the ones who would actually follow the rules. This just leaves the rule breakers and idiots, giving everyone else a bad name.
I would personally love a micro mobility option. An option between walking and driving my van somewhere would be extremely useful.
There are some great examples of cycle lane design out there. And some atrocious examples of cycle lanes that have been built. But that’s a separate rant.
If we had a quality cycle lane network, we could have adapted that to support “more than walking, less that driving” lanes without much issue.
The earlier we invest in this new class of highway the cheaper and easier it will be.
I really hope in the next few years we see a revolution in short distance transport. Most journeys are less than 3 miles (if I remember correctly, could be 5) a perfect distance for e-bikes, e-scooters and normal acoustic bikes. Hopefully at least some places capitalise on it
Acoustic bikes? What kind of witchery is that? Do you sing to unlock them or do they play music while you ride?
Sadly this is a term that has caught on even though it makes no sense. I wish people had latched onto “non-electric” bike or “NE” bike instead, but here we are.
What are your rules about bicycles? In Sweden, we regulated them kinda like bicycles - as long as the motor has an effect under 250w, and is limited to driving at speeds of 20km/hr, you’re able to use them in the same places and manners as other bicycles.
Recently they started to require traffic insurance, and basically all insurance plans have zero deductibles as long as you’re wearing a helmet. I barely see anyone with helmets still, but yeah…
Or is the biggest nightmare that there’s not many designated bicycle paths, and so people are zooming around where pedestrians are walking?
25kmph and 250w, off the top of my head. You need to pedal for the motor to engage, and they count as a bicycle so no insurance needed. The twist & go bikes (no pedalling required) are basically motorbikes with pedals so they’re technically illegal but they’re still widespread. You’ll regularly see them in every city centre for food deliveries and you’ll see kids on them everywhere else.
The lack of bicycle paths is a big problem but I don’t think they’ll solve it entirely. The barrier of entry is just too low, any idiot can ride one and be oblivious to the danger as they weave in between people.
This seems like a good first step.
Move them out of the “technically illegal, but lots of people use them anyway” area, and into the “legal to use, but you have to register and carry some form of insurance”.Are you going to apply the same rules to pedal assist bikes? Or are you planning to single out e-scooters only, like tfl did for some reason?
Honestly, I might even extend it to push bikes.
And make it so inexpensive to get the insurance that there is no excuse.
It’s something that’s irking me.
I’ve been a bicyclist, car driver, drive for a living and also have a VSett that goes a steady 35mph max which means I can lane check but, because I can’t fugging insure the thing means I’m always looking over my shoulder if I need to dump some
keeneager copper.I’m starting to think of selling it so I can get a
eBikeSurron instead and blend in with the local wildlife around here.If you give people a reasonable, legal way to do things, people will generally do them.
And the odd twat doing 30mph on the pavement is much more obvious, rather than blending in with people who would otherwise be following the laws.I think one thing that’s missing from the equation is testing and licensing to ride/drive them.
I know it’s an English forum here but you need to have a set of cojones to “drive” an escoot/EUC on our roads and I only use it to travel the short distance to work.
I’ve gone down arterial roads suited up with live Bradford traffic, and it’s not for the faint of heart lemmi tell ya :/
Just ask the communities who banned e-scooter for safety reasons why they did it.
But why won’t anyone think of the cars!
It will just be like cycle lanes and bus lanes. They take up all the space that could be used by cars! There isn’t enough space for cars! All these poor taxi drivers will be dead in the gutter and ambulances won’t be able to move if we legalise e scooters. Poor old ladies that can’t walk wont be able to use their car.
What this government needs to do is ban cycling, buses, taxis, pavements, wheelchairs, and invest in roads! We should turn all our railway lines to roads let’s face it no one uses trains. This country was built on cars!
Fucking idiots can’t do anything right.
Also ban speed cameras. I can’t get anywhere as fast as I used to and it’s dangerous to have to slam on my breaks every time I see a speed camera.
