News / e-scooters
Petition to ban ‘dangerous toys’
A petition to ban e-scooters in Bristol has almost fulfilled its goal of 1,500 signatures.
Calling e-scooters a “way of making money” petitioner Paul Williams has urged for an eradication of these electric vehicles from Bristol, as he believes they are “dangerous toys” placed in the hands of those incapable of handling them.
Justifying the petition, Williams said: “They are dangerous to riders and traffic, and are heartedly loathed by locals. People who ride them are frequently folk who would otherwise walk, so there is no hard evidence that e-scooter use has the slightest impact on the pollution levels or traffic problems of Bristol.
E-scooters have been banned from government offices and their long term rentals have also been paused – photo: Martin Booth
“It is not unusual to see an e-scooter with more than one person on board, and anecdotal (though unsurprising) reports of drunken or drugged riding are common.”
“Just last week I saw someone in the Centre in broad daylight, with a face mask, riding his e-scooter on the pavement at speed to attack another young man. E-scooters facilitate antisocial activity and crime.”
Recently, Bristol’s government offices placed a ban on parking e-scooters and e-bikes within the office premises, after citing a fire risk.
The same fire risk was the reason given when newly merged operators Tier-Dott decided to stop their long-term rental scooters, that are usually stored in people’s homes.
Concern about safety associated with e-scooters has been a major talking point.
A resident commented on a Bristol24/7 post: “I got hit by a lad with his headphones in the other day, he hit me and three other people riding on the pavement.
“He had no helmet and was riding completely unaware with headphones in on the pavement on one of the few stretches of town with a bike lane.
“I’ve also witnessed at least 2 crashes caused by them running red lights. You need to sign up to these using a provisional. Before any contracts are signed/resigned there needs to be a system where you receive points for flagrant violations of road law, and common sense.”
Main photo: Karen Johnson
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