E Scooters

Big difference between the e-scooter and the e-bike. The latter is motor assisted pedalling, the former will be all powered. The scooter has tiny wheels, and whilst the rider will be closer to the ground, that must be more vulnerable to uneven paved surfaces than a bike (although I know of cyclists who lost their lives after hitting potholes). I think most scooter riders will try and ride on pavements, clearly a problem for the unsuspecting pedestrian who won't hear them coming up 3-4 times faster. How will police readily identify the hire versus private scooter, and do they have time to do that? I really don't think this will be a good idea.
 
Well as revealed on tonight's TV news, yes they will be legalised for road use only, must be hired so I guess that means roadworthy, within legal limits on power/speed, & hopefully insured, as there are going to be some accidents for sure.
The best news was they can only be hired to 17+ year olds that hold a full or provisional car licence, so at least they will have some highway code and road knowledge, plus be insurable I guess.
I still think they are too dangerous to be used on busy city congested roads, they are harder to spot than motorcyclists!
LES
 
Lots of them in Oslo, they seem to get left all over the place. You just find one, log into the app on your phone which, I think sends a code to the scooter and off you go. You are charged by the minute and when you get to where you are going you log off the app and the charging stops. You just leave the scooter for the next person to find and use. The biggest company has over 300000 registered users. The scooters are easy to spot as they are all Painted the same a bit like the Boris bikes in London.
 
Clickem said:
Reading on the BBC website it seems likely that E Scooters will be legalised within days. I was looking at this as a nice light, compact alternative to an Electric Bike to carry in the garage. It seems that this permission will be limited to rental scooters only in city centres - shame really
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Looking at the news last night there was plenty of footage of them being used prior to the law being changed.Just another sign of the absence of uniformed Police on our streets.
 
busby said:
Looking at the news last night there was plenty of footage of them being used prior to the law being changed.Just another sign of the absence of uniformed Police on our streets.
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A neighbor of my mate uses one and he is a copper, if the police can't even obey the law what hope have we.
 
maison said:
Where we are in France a Voie Verte is within half a kilometre. There is then 130klms of track to use.

Our two nearest villages are 5k and 8k away in opposite directions.

I cycle the Voie Verte almost every day but Mrs Maison has had two total knee replacements and finds cycling difficult. Electric scooters may be the answer for her if we fancy nipping out for a coffee, or something a little more vinous.
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Standing for a long time could be a problem particularly on one leg. I've had two replacement knees and whilst I've got full articulation the vertical pressure over a period becomes painful
 
I suspect that it won't be long before they are jumping lights,riding on and of pavements and going the wrong way down one way streets just like some cyclists.
 
philann said:
Lots of them in Oslo, they seem to get left all over the place. You just find one, log into the app on your phone which, I think sends a code to the scooter and off you go. You are charged by the minute and when you get to where you are going you log off the app and the charging stops. You just leave the scooter for the next person to find and use. The biggest company has over 300000 registered users. The scooters are easy to spot as they are all Painted the same a bit like the Boris bikes in London.
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I understand that in Paris there are self-employed van drivers who collect the hired trottinettes for a ransom fee. The more electric hire scooters, the more white vans zooming around city streets to get to the abandoned scooters before the competition. Another hazard.

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We had a young man come past one day last week riding one and wobbling all over the road. Guess what riding one hand on the handlebars the other texting or reading his mobile phone. You could not make it up!

No protective knee or elbow pads and the only head protection was the usual back to front baseball cap.
 
scally said:
Standing for a long time could be a problem particularly on one leg. I've had two replacement knees and whilst I've got full articulation the vertical pressure over a period becomes painful
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From my information you travel with both feet on the running board.

I do know what you mean however from my wife’s experience.

If they are available to hire near us in France the intention is to hire one and try it out. If it is OK we would proceed, if not then, obviously, not.

5 years ago she was confined to a wheelchair for a period of almost six months before having both knees replaced on the same day. Not a procedure I would recommend. Both knees operated on and recovering at the same time means there is no way to “put your best forward “ as the physiotherapists kept asking her to do. Due to her determination and the help of experts in injury recovery at the Fire Services Rehabilitation Centre she was back on a bicycle within six weeks, although only for short distances initially.

She is pretty good altogether now though there are obviously some limitations on what she can achieve.

Hope your op was similarly successful.
 
Do these things have facilities for carrying stuff?
 
LesW said:
Do these things have facilities for carrying stuff?
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I don't think the rental scooters do. A scooter you could buy privately and use in another country will have more onboard options.
 
Really finding some of these posts amusing yes amusing, some people forget that as youngsters they probably had bikes with dodgy brakes, made soapbox derby carts with a stick of wood as a brake and if all else failed the soles of your shoes if you had any.
Do you also recall the early days of motorised transport and the guy with the red lantern walking in front, Joe public was mortified at these horseless beasts roaming the roads well many where merely tracks!.
Here we are today on a "Motorhome" forum and people are still not prepared to accept that people and there form of motion has moved on thank goodness.:giggle:

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scally said:
Standing for a long time could be a problem particularly on one leg. I've had two replacement knees and whilst I've got full articulation the vertical pressure over a period becomes painful
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you can get them with a seat
 
Red Dragon said:
Really finding some of these posts amusing yes amusing, some people forget that as youngsters they probably had bikes with dodgy brakes, made soapbox derby carts with a stick of wood as a brake and if all else failed the soles of your shoes if you had any.
Do you also recall the early days of motorised transport and the guy with the red lantern walking in front, Joe public was mortified at these horseless beasts roaming the roads well many where merely tracks!.
Here we are today on a "Motorhome" forum and people are still not prepared to accept that people and there form of motion has moved on thank goodness.:giggle:
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You forgot to add they thought they would suffocate if they went over 7mph, these scooters can do double that 😂 😂

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I tried an electric moped last year - it was taken back to the hire shop within 10 minutes. I am tall and it was like riding a kiddies bike, really uncomfortable and there was no way to raise the seat.

If I could find one that was comfortable and an affordable alternative to a bike / car I would get one - especially if it could be registered, taxed and insured and go at over 15/16 mph !!
 
One passed me on a foot/cycle path this morning while dog walking. It had a seat and was going like clappers. Illegal of course but not likely to be stopped, I dont think anyone could catch him.
 
maison said:
From my information you travel with both feet on the running board.

I do know what you mean however from my wife’s experience.

If they are available to hire near us in France the intention is to hire one and try it out. If it is OK we would proceed, if not then, obviously, not.

5 years ago she was confined to a wheelchair for a period of almost six months before having both knees replaced on the same day. Not a procedure I would recommend. Both knees operated on and recovering at the same time means there is no way to “put your best forward “ as the physiotherapists kept asking her to do. Due to her determination and the help of experts in injury recovery at the Fire Services Rehabilitation Centre she was back on a bicycle within six weeks, although only for short distances initially.

She is pretty good altogether now though there are obviously some limitations on what she can achieve.

Hope your op was similarly successful.
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Fortunately mine were done 18months apart. Therefore I was able to do all the excercises between and after the second. This gave me full mobility of knees however since I have got arthritis in both hips so am awaiting new ones which I suspect will be a while. This of course restricts my walking and standing,so keeping weight under control is taxing

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Looking at one yesterday in Halfords. The store manager said not to bother as only legal on private land. 🤔
 
LesW said:
That doesn't look to bad, I didn't know they had seats..:LOL:
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mojo said:
Looking at one yesterday in Halfords. The store manager said not to bother as only legal on private land. 🤔
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They look really useful especially to motorhomers. They can only be used on private land at the moment - the UK is looking at making them legal in some form.
 
tonyidle said:
<snip>the UK is looking at making them legal in some form.
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Rented scooters will be legal at this coming weekend - although how that status will be policed....
 
More sport for us cyclists 12mph is that all!
Would take me twice as long to get to work and back

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