Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

Number of e-scooters on UK roads set to soar - why not everyone's pleased about it

Number of e-scooters on UK roads set to soar - why not everyone's pleased about it

London is to launch a trial of e-scooters within weeks - but concerns have been raised after their rollout in other UK cities.

The number of e-scooters on the UK's roads is set to soar as London prepares to launch a trial of the vehicles in the coming weeks.

They have been hailed as a greener, more sustainable mode of transport that can reduce traffic congestion, but concerns have been raised after trials in other UK cities.

Newcastle has introduced an overnight curfew for e-scooter riders after a spate of drink-driving arrests, with six men due in court on Thursday.

A councillor in Merseyside recently branded the devices "orange death traps" after witnessing people riding them on pavements in Liverpool.

E-scooters have been hailed as a greener, more sustainable mode of transport


And in Leicester, where e-scooters are not being trialled, a six-year-old boy suffered a fractured skull after being struck by a teenager riding one of the vehicles.

So what are the worries about the surge in e-scooters in the UK, what benefits do they bring and how are companies tackling irresponsible users?

'We're really lucky that his little body didn't just crumble'


The sister of a six-year-old boy who suffered a fractured skull after being struck by an e-scooter rider told Sky News she has concerns about their increase on UK roads.

Jamie Smith was sent "somersaulting" through the air and was knocked unconscious outside his home in Leicester after being hit by a teenager riding one of the devices.

Six-year-old Jamie Smith suffered a fractured skull after being hit by an e-scooter rider.


The 17-year-old rider, who failed to stop after the collision, pleaded guilty on Monday to several offences including causing a serious injury by dangerous driving. He is due to be sentenced on 12 April.

Jamie's sister Brooklyn Smith, 21, told Sky News she feared for her brother's life as he was airlifted to hospital after the incident in August.

"We're really lucky that his little body didn't just crumble," she said.

"There was just blood everywhere, absolutely everywhere - all over the pavement, all over my brother.

"His face looked an absolute mess.

"We weren't allowed to scoop him up to cuddle him, we were told to leave him how he was in case anything had happened to his spine."

Jamie's sister said she feared for his life after the collision.


Ms Smith said it took her brother six weeks "to even look in a mirror because his own reflection genuinely frightened him and he didn't recognise his own face".

Since the collision, Jamie has suffered memory loss, nightmares and an "irrational fear of the outside world", she added.

"He overthinks everything in the worst possible scenario and has a constant fear regardless of where he is," Ms Smith said.

"This one incident has put a huge wrecking ball in his life and it's not just affected his face and body, it's affected his trust, his friendships and almost every aspect of his life and it is heartbreaking to see."

Jamie has suffered memory loss and nightmares since the incident, his family say.


Ms Smith told Sky News she believed e-scooters needed to be made safer to avoid other people getting hurt.

"I don't think we can get to the point where we can ban them all together," she said.

"I think they definitely need to make them a lot safer and help make sure this doesn't happen to another child again.

"They need to have some form of testing where if you've got points on your licence or anything like that, because you've been driving without a licence or driving irresponsibly, you shouldn't be able to go on (an e-scooter)."

Where are e-scooters being trialled in the UK?


The government is trialling rental e-scooters in more than 40 towns and cities across England as it assesses their safety and whether they reduce traffic.

Birmingham, Liverpool, Salford, Bristol, Milton Keynes and Newcastle are among the locations taking part in the scheme.

A woman rides a Voi rental e-scooter near the Guildhall in Portsmouth


London is preparing to launch a trial of e-scooters in the coming weeks, with the devices expected to be deployed in 11 out of 33 boroughs in the capital in May, according to reports.

Transport for London (TfL) has not revealed details of the launch but confirmed the trial is expected to start "later this spring".

A TfL spokesperson told Sky News it was in the "final stages of the procurement process" and an announcement on the outcome will be made "in due course".

Further e-scooter trials are due to to begin in Sunderland, North Devon, Rochdale and Great Yarmouth, with the last one expected to end in November.

Riders need to have a full or provisional car, motorcycle or moped licence, and have been urged to wear a helmet.

Only rental e-scooters are allowed on roads, and they are limited to 15.5mph.

E-scooter company Voi said the devices were 'easing the pressure' on public transport systems


E-scooter company Voi, which is involved in trials in 21 towns and cities in the UK, says it has recorded more than one million rides in just over six months.

Sam Pooke, the firm's public policy manager, said e-scooters were "easing the pressure" on public transport systems and providing a "socially distanced way to travel" during the pandemic.

"We're helping people to use a more sustainable, green way of getting around," he said.

"That in turn improves air quality, it improves health, it decreases congestion on the roads and it makes cities much easier and much better for living."

How are e-scooter companies tackling irresponsible riders?


Mr Pooke said Voi has introduced four-digit code licence plates to its e-scooters so anyone riding irresponsibly can be identified.

In order to "battle against drunk-riding", people have to pass a reaction test to use a Voi e-scooter at night, he added. Those who fail the test are sent a link to a local taxi service.

There have been some reports of "slight injuries" but "accident data is remarkably low", according to Mr Pooke.

Sam Pooke from Voi said e-scooters are a 'more sustainable, green way of getting around'


He said the "vast majority of our users are riding them responsibly and safely" but added: "Unfortunately there is a very small minority who ride irresponsibly, such as going on the pavement.

"The best way to tackle this is to work collaboratively with our council partners and the police."

Another e-scooter company, Neuron, operates in Newcastle and Slough and will launch in Sunderland next week.

It told Sky News there had been "some issues with a very small proportion of riders not following the rules and people parking the e-scooters irresponsibly".

However Neuron said the overnight curfew in Newcastle, which immobilises its e-scooters between 11pm and 5am, has led to an "immediate and significant reduction in the number of reports of irresponsible riding".

E-scooter firm Neuron said there had been 'some issues' with the vehicles parked irresponsibly


"Overall the vast majority of users abide by the rules and behave in a safe and responsible manner," it added.

"For those who do break the rules, we generally warn and educate them further and usually cases of repeat offending are rare."

Are e-scooters set to be legalised across the UK?


Privately-owned e-scooters cannot be used on the UK's roads - one of the last countries in Europe where this is the case - due to their classification as a motor vehicle under the Road Traffic Act 1988.

Motor vehicles are required to have number plates, with users needing to have a driver's licence, insurance and wear a helmet.

In October, MPs recommended that e-scooters should be legalised in the UK within 18 months to help make cities greener.

An e-scooter trial is taking place in Milton Keynes


A consultation by parliament's transport committee found the vehicles could be an effective way to cut car journeys and clean up the air.

But the MPs said e-scooters should remain banned from pavements for pedestrian safety.

The transport committee has called for e-scooters to be opened up to everyone, even those without a licence, and helmets to be strongly recommended but not mandated by law.

YouTube star Emily Hartridge became the first e-scooter rider to be killed in the UK in July 2019.

An inquest reportedly found that the 35-year-old lost control due to an underinflated tyre when she collided with a lorry in Battersea, southwest London.

AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
France Faces New Political Crisis, again, as Prime Minister Bayrou Pushed Out
Nayib Bukele Points Out Belgian Hypocrisy as Brussels Considers Sending Army into the Streets
France, at an Impasse, Heads Toward Another Government Collapse
The Country That Got Too Rich? Public Spending Dominates Norway Election
EU Proposes Phasing Out Russian Oil and Gas by End of 2027 to End Energy Dependence
More Than 150,000 Followers for a Fictional Character: The New Influencers Are AI Creations
EU Prepares for War
Trump Threatens Retaliatory Tariffs After EU Imposes €2.95 Billion Fine on Google
Tesla Board Proposes Unprecedented One-Trillion-Dollar Performance Package for Elon Musk
Gold Could Reach Nearly $5,000 if Fed Independence Is Undermined, Goldman Sachs Warns
Uruguay, Colombia and Paraguay Secure Places at 2026 World Cup
Trump Administration Advances Plans to Rebrand Pentagon as Department of War Instead of the Fake Term Department of Defense
Big Tech Executives Laud Trump at White House Dinner, Unveil Massive U.S. Investments
Tether Expands into Gold Sector with Profit-Driven Diversification
‘Looks Like a Wig’: Online Users Express Concern Over Kate Middleton
Florida’s Vaccine Revolution: DeSantis Declares War on Mandates
Trump’s New War – and the ‘Drug Tyrant’ Fearing Invasion: ‘1,200 Missiles Aimed at Us’
"The Situation Has Never Been This Bad": The Fall of PepsiCo
At the Parade in China: Laser Weapons, 'Eagle Strike,' and a Missile Capable of 'Striking Anywhere in the World'
The Fashion Designer Who Became an Italian Symbol: Giorgio Armani Has Died at 91
Putin Celebrates ‘Unprecedentedly High’ Ties with China as Gazprom Seals Power of Siberia-2 Deal
China Unveils New Weapons in Grand Military Parade as Xi Hosts Putin and Kim
Rapper Cardi B Cleared of Liability in Los Angeles Civil Assault Trial
Google Avoids Break-Up in U.S. Antitrust Case as Stocks Rise
Couple celebrates 80th wedding anniversary at assisted living facility in Lancaster
Information Warfare in the Age of AI: How Language Models Become Targets and Tools
The White House on LinkedIn Has Changed Their Profile Picture to Donald Trump
"Insulted the Prophet Muhammad": Woman Burned Alive by Angry Mob in Niger State, Nigeria
Trump Responds to Death Rumors – Announces 'Missile City'
Druzhba Pipeline Incident Sparks Geopolitical Tensions
Cost of Opposition Leader Péter Magyar's Economic Plan Revealed
Germany in Turmoil: Ukrainian Teenage Girl Pushed to Death by Illegal Iraqi Migrant
United Krack down on human rights: Graham Linehan Arrested at Heathrow Over Three X Posts, Hospitalised, Released on Bail with Posting Ban
Asian and Middle Eastern Investors Avoid US Markets
Ray Dalio Warns of US Shift to Autocracy
Eurozone Inflation Rises to 2.1% in August
Russia and China Sign New Gas Pipeline Deal
Von der Leyen's Plane Hit by Suspected Russian GPS Interference in an Incident Believed to Be Caused by Russia or by Pro-Peace or by Anti-Corruption European Activists
China's Robotics Industry Fuels Export Surge
Suntory Chairman Resigns After Police Probe
Gold Price Hits New All-Time Record
UK Fintechs Explore Buying US Banks
Greece Suspends 5% of Schools as Birth Rate Drops
Apollo to Launch $5 Billion Sports Investment Vehicle
Bolsonaro Trial Nears Close Amid US-Brazil Tension
European Banks Push for Lower Cross-Border Barriers
Poland's Offshore Wind Sector Attracts Investors
Budapest Central European Fashion Week Kicks Off
U.S. Celebrates Labor Day
Hungarian National Team Captain Scores Epic Goal
×