E-scooters

[Cougar377]

Is it the law that you can only ride one if:

- you're only wearing black
- you're wearing a hoody with the hood up
- the lights have been disabled
- you're spending all your time looking at your phone
- you weave randomly through cars
- you ride in the middle of the road
- you ride against the flow of traffic
- you ride continually on and off pavements
- you race your friends through pedestrian precincts
- you optionally carrying a passenger who is the one actually steering, while you show them naked pics of your "girlfriend"

Asking because if it's true then I'm lobbying my local MP to see about getting the same laws applied to motorcycling.

 

[slim63]

I know two E-scooter riders and have to say neither ride like twats, slow down for other people and are generally respectful, one is mid 40's one mid 30's and neither can legally drive

But the amount of bloody idiots around here on them and E-bikes is unbelievable, not yet had an altercation with one but its only a matter of time

 

[Minkey]

I know two E-scooter riders and have to say neither ride like twats, slow down for other people and are generally respectful, one is mid 40's one mid 30's and neither can legally drive

But the amount of bloody idiots around here on them and E-bikes is unbelievable, not yet had an altercation with one but its only a matter of time

as far as I'm aware it's legal to own a E-scooter but not legal to ride one on public footpaths or roads unless hired a law I don't understand

 

[Ned52]

+1......... for above

 

[derek kelly]

E scooters, teks mi bak t’mi childud.

 

[Squag1]

Just today met two at speed in a narrow pedestrian area. Clowns.
I'll be in jail if one ever hits me.

 

[ogr1]

E scooters, teks mi bak t’mi childud.

& there we have it.
Proof that using anything without an engine causes a bastardised speech impediment.

 

[derek kelly]

E cigs, remember wen ah used t’smoke park drive

 

[T.C]

There is a trial case starting soon where an E scooter rider is suing a car driver for wiping him out and causing life changing injuries.

Even though 99% of e-scooters are illegal, depending on the result it could turn the e-scooter world upside down in the literal sense.

 

[slim63]

as far as I'm aware it's legal to own a E-scooter but not legal to ride one on public footpaths or roads unless hired a law I don't understand

That is how I understand it too but it isn't enforced and to my mind can't be enforced

 

[T.C]

That is how I understand it too but it isn't enforced and to my mind can't be enforced

The law is quite specific with regards to licencing

Firstly, You must have a category Q on your licence as a minimum to use an e-scooter. A full or provisional UK licence for categories AM, A or B includes entitlement for category Q. If you have one of these licences, you can use an e-scooter.

This rules out all under 16's for a start.

If you have a provisional licence, you do not need to show L plates when using an e-scooter

If privately owned E-scooters cannot ne used on the road, and rental scooters will have insurance cover in place

Use a private scooter with no licence, no insurance or any other non compliance of the regs, then it can be seized. However, most plod (and that includes traffic) are not really up to speed so unlikely to be enforced.

There are a load of other regs as well, but until the Government trial is over and the test injury case concludes, nothing much is likely to happen

 

[derek kelly]

It’s perfectly legal to ride an e bike but not an e scooter?

 

[Cougar377]

Every e-scooter I've seen locally has been ridden by a schoolkid. I've even seen them ride past parked police cars.

 

[slim63]

The law is quite specific with regards to licencing

Firstly, You must have a category Q on your licence as a minimum to use an e-scooter. A full or provisional UK licence for categories AM, A or B includes entitlement for category Q. If you have one of these licences, you can use an e-scooter.

This rules out all under 16's for a start.

If you have a provisional licence, you do not need to show L plates when using an e-scooter

If privately owned E-scooters cannot ne used on the road, and rental scooters will have insurance cover in place

Use a private scooter with no licence, no insurance or any other non compliance of the regs, then it can be seized. However, most plod (and that includes traffic) are not really up to speed so unlikely to be enforced.

There are a load of other regs as well, but until the Government trial is over and the test injury case concludes, nothing much is likely to happen

Yup pretty much what I had heard but these scooters don't get ridden on the road in most cases and that's the real problem when they are not ridden responsibly just the same as people riding push bikes on the pavement really .....

Derek makes a good point about E-bikes they are powered the same and are often seen both on the road and in pedestrian areas around here, where is the difference as far as the law is concerned? ...... both need a push or pedal before the motor will take over as far as I can see

Genuine questions Not specifically for you T.C but something to think about maybe .....
Does the road traffic act apply to pavements and pedestrian area's? if it does why is it not enforced? How can an electrically powered bicycle be exempt from insurance while an electrically powered (proper road legal) scooter isn't?

 

[T.C]

Yup pretty much what I had heard but these scooters don't get ridden on the road in most cases and that's the real problem when they are not ridden responsibly just the same as people riding push bikes on the pavement really .....

Derek makes a good point about E-bikes they are powered the same and are often seen both on the road and in pedestrian areas around here, where is the difference as far as the law is concerned? ...... both need a push or pedal before the motor will take over as far as I can see

Genuine questions Not specifically for you T.C but something to think about maybe .....
Does the road traffic act apply to pavements and pedestrian area's? if it does why is it not enforced? How can an electrically powered bicycle be exempt from insurance while an electrically powered (proper road legal) scooter isn't?

Firstly despite its electric motor, an E-Bike is classed as a bicycle as it still has pedals as a means of propulsion. An E-scooter relies totally on battery power and a throttle

So to define them further -

Electric bikes are the only type that have functional pedals today, enabling the rider to get exercise while commuting. This is in keeping with a standard bike but, the electric motor is a backup for want of a better description.

Electric moped two wheeled is a hybrid of both motorized and human (pedaling) power, and occasionally resembles an electric bicycle. The term “moped” is derived from the two words “motor” and “pedal”.

Electric scooter is a plug-in electric vehicle with two or three wheels powered by an electric motor, and often resembles a motorcycle. The electricity is stored on board in a rechargeable battery, which drives one or more electric motors. Speed is usually limited at a maximum of 15.5MPH

The Road Traffic Act can apply to Pavement and pedestrian areas in regards to the use of a vehicle or motor vehicle, much will depend on whether the public are allowed general access, but there are usually various by laws that cover when the road traffic act cannot be applied..

The debate about insurance is currently under discussion with many of the insurance companies, but at the moment many are sitting on the fence, but in respect of enforcement? hahahahahahahahahahaha good luck on that one. Most coppers will take flight at the thought of enforcing because they have no understanding and no desire to understand the rules and they will not enforce what they don't know. Remember training is a dirty word in the police service these days

 

[slim63]

Firstly despite its electric motor, an E-Bike is classed as a bicycle as it still has pedals as a means of propulsion. An E-scooter relies totally on battery power and a throttle

So to define them further -

Electric bikes are the only type that have functional pedals today, enabling the rider to get exercise while commuting. This is in keeping with a standard bike but, the electric motor is a backup for want of a better description.

Electric moped two wheeled is a hybrid of both motorized and human (pedaling) power, and occasionally resembles an electric bicycle. The term “moped” is derived from the two words “motor” and “pedal”.

Electric scooter is a plug-in electric vehicle with two or three wheels powered by an electric motor, and often resembles a motorcycle. The electricity is stored on board in a rechargeable battery, which drives one or more electric motors. Speed is usually limited at a maximum of 15.5MPH

The Road Traffic Act can apply to Pavement and pedestrian areas in regards to the use of a vehicle or motor vehicle, much will depend on whether the public are allowed general access, but there are usually various by laws that cover when the road traffic act cannot be applied..

The debate about insurance is currently under discussion with many of the insurance companies, but at the moment many are sitting on the fence, but in respect of enforcement? hahahahahahahahahahaha good luck on that one. Most coppers will take flight at the thought of enforcing because they have no understanding and no desire to understand the rules and they will not enforce what they don't know. Remember training is a dirty word in the police service these days

It really is a minefield and I am not surprised plod wont (or cant afford to) police this stuff

As I said previously I have two friends who use electric scooters one uses his to and from work and it was bought under a government backed scheme for that reason, I presume that is some sort of lease hire as he pays monthly, again presumably that is "hired" until paid in full so legal for him to use ? (he has a provisional)

The second also uses his for work, but he bought it himself, no licence and owned so presumably illegal?

Both of these things do in excess of 25mph on the flat as the app to power them up is freely available but neither will pull my modest 11 stone from a standing start without scooting to get moving neither will pull me up the small hill outside my house either and they are even worse on the standard power setting so "exercise" is needed (both owners have 4 stone or so on me so its even worse for them) which kind of makes a mockery of the government guidelines to my mind

Ps these lads have been using scooters for years now and neither have had a single problem with either pedestrians or plod, probably because both are responsible adults
Still hate the bloody things myself though

 

[Stevebrooke]

It’s perfectly legal to ride an e bike but not an e scooter?

On an E bike the motor provides assistance and only activates after a certain amount of torque (pressure on the pedals) is applied. If you stop pedaling or are pedaling and reach 25kph then the power cuts out. The rider does not directly control the electric power which is probably why they are legal.