Police seek hit-and-run e-scooter rider after cyclist seriously injured in crash

The vast majority of e-scooters in use are illegal. Only those from the approved rental outlets are legal. Some e-scooters are very quick. Riding standards on them vary hugely. A lot of kids use them round my way here in South London, despite the fact that it's also illegal. Some people using them for commuting seem reasonable enough but some really dodgy people also use them. I know dealers use them a lot.

I hope the cyclist in this incident heals up ok. If I was the victim, I'd be pretty annoyed.

I'm wondering if the fact that they're illegal to use on the roads etc. is part of the reason that the rider fled?

I'd like to think most of the riders of the illegal scooters realise what they are doing,but I'm not wholly convinced they have the remotest clue in alot of cases.

Awavey wrote:

I'd like to think most of the riders of the illegal scooters realise what they are doing,but I'm not wholly convinced they have the remotest clue in alot of cases.

Mrs HawkinsPeter was seriously thinking of buying an e-scooter (ILLEGAL!), but I kept deflecting her with suggesting that she uses her MTB instead (she's finding the traffic very anxiety inducing at the moment so she's been avoiding cycling). Luckily, when the Voi trial started up in Bristol, they were giving free rides to NHS staff, so she's been making use of them from time to time.

E-scooter buyers are well aware that they're not legal to use on public roads, but they're a cheap and convenient way of commuting. I think they should just be legalised and then deal with the problems as they arise.

How does being on an e-scooter reduce traffic induced anxiety? They have smaller wheels and are more vulnerable to poor road surface etc - I can't see how anyone worried about traffic fro a cycling perspective would not think being on an e-scooter would be worse?

Velo-drone wrote:

How does being on an e-scooter reduce traffic induced anxiety? They have smaller wheels and are more vulnerable to poor road surface etc - I can't see how anyone worried about traffic fro a cycling perspective would not think being on an e-scooter would be worse?

Less time pressure on getting changed into cycling clothes, and I think she finds the scooters more fun.

Even Ogmios almost a bad word to say about them and he is normally chill with everything on the roads. 

Well theres no legal trial around here, and I only see them on the road where theyve found their way blocked on the pavement and the majority arent commuting,other than to get to 6th form, as someone said a while back it's a generation who grew up with scooters as primary school kids who've just found they can get ones with electric motors and dont see the difference. The whole and technically that makes them motorised vehicles which prohibits their use because of...etc etc doesnt come into it.

The kid who shooed me off the path out of her escooter way as I walked back from the shops recently wouldnt have had the first clue she was doing anything illegal had the police stopped her, to her it was perfectly ok to ride it on the pavement and eveb demand others make the space for her...sure she'll grow up to be a great driver, not.

hawkinspeter wrote:

I'm wondering if the fact that they're illegal to use on the roads etc. is part of the reason that the rider fled?

Wouldn't surprise me at all.  Same as someone involved in a car collision leaving the scene because they'll get in trouble for their illegally fonted number plates or illegally tinted windows...

 A lot of kids use them round my way

This is even true on the roads in Garstang, Lancashire- (except I couldn't really describe 'a lot') with the police studiously failing to notice them. Needless to say, there is no 'official scheme' here

This is another great example of how the Police no longer see their job as protecting people. Protecting people rquires proactive use of resources, to coin a phrase "bobbies on the beat". Even when you do see them they tend to be PCSOs rather than actual Police with powers to enforce barely better than citizens arrest.

A few months back I saw a "classic" scooter in a chopper style (handle bars at head height) whizzing along keeping up with traffic. Looked like it was probably a 2 stroke engine on it. How is it this is even happening.

IanMK wrote:

A few months back I saw a "classic" scooter in a chopper style (handle bars at head height) whizzing along keeping up with traffic. Looked like it was probably a 2 stroke engine on it. How is it this is even happening.

I've noticed a few (presumably illegal?) scooters which even have a saddle on the end of a pole.

Ones like this ?

stonojnr wrote:

Ones like this ?

The very one.

But the ones I've seen, the rider is is usually a bit more of a "husky gentleman" ((c) H. Simpson).

I saw someone that passes me most days on an e scooter stopped by the police last week.

I saw him later walking to work where he usually passes me and he told me it was confiscated and he was given a £150 fine.

Ratfink wrote:

I saw someone that passes me most days on an e scooter stopped by the police last week.

I saw him later walking to work where he usually passes me and he told me it was confiscated and he was given a £150 fine.

Which police authority?

Double post

brooksby wrote:

 

Which police authority?

The Met it was in Romford.

I know. Just commentating that I could understand two people/ vehicles coming together on underpasses like near me where there are 90 degree turns (there has been one or two close instances in the past with legal scooters with one I use.) However that underpass is quite straight and wide and two vehicles should easily be able to pass. So I was wondering if the scooter was excessivly fast which caused the incident.