4 ms·

Here in the UK they are illegal (unless used on private land), which is sad as whilst they are illegal as technically a motor vehicle, needing some form of test

by Zenst 7y ago

Here in the UK they are illegal (unless used on private land), which is sad as whilst they are illegal as technically a motor vehicle, needing some form of test, insurance, mot.... That has not happened and in limbo as clearly a need for some standards control etc, but an unwillingness to address that and more so a periodic fashion stopping of people upon such vehicles in an apathetic way that causes many to get one, go months, even years without knowing they are breach of the law and driven past many police/traffic wardens, then suddenly one day they stop you and caution you saying you can't. They then go back to ignoring it as a low-priority issue and the limbo of not legal as no formal way to allow one, yet readily sold and accessible. So for the UK, such rise is randomly curtailed and no progress upon legal avenues to use them as you would intend beyond private land - which many do not own in London, an area in which such modes of transport are most suited. [EDIT ADD] A better read upon what I said :- https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-48106617 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-48106617

Blackstone4 7y ago
I agree that it’s sad that e-scooters are banned in the UK. I take the train to work and I have ~20mins of waking either end (1 hr 20 mins per day total). An electric scooter could save me ~40 mins per day.... Why are electric scooters banned when e-bikes are fine? What if they were capped at 20mph? Below the 25 for bikes
- smashah 7y ago
  Ebikes are technically restricted to 15mph here. The micromobility laws in the UK are a complete joke and driven by car and tier 1 manufacturers lobbying (e.g Bosch via EU). EBikes and scooters are hands down the best solution to London's pollution issue yet people are getting fined for using them. There is a complete lack of logic in the rulings. The reason why escooters are illegal whereas EBikes are not: throttle. An ebike with a throttle is technically not legal and in the same boat as an escooter. This distinction is ridiculous as an ecyclist/scooterist with a throttle is safer than someone going the same speed under their own effort. The law in the UK should be: - throttle is allowed - fine if not wearing proper safety equipment - Speed limit increased to 25 mph or current vehicle speed limit (e.g 20 near schools) - no power limit (this allows heavier people to go the same speed as others, and it allows heavier cargo-type bikes to be much more useful) - Innovate UK/BEIS grants specifically for electric micromobility projects (right now EBikes and scooters are generally barred from these grant competitions)
  - ljf 7y ago
    The speed limitation is down to the fact that they don't need insuring. Like pedal bikes the idea is that they will cause limited injury or damage to property in the event of a crash. Up things to 25mph, plus the frame/battery weight needed to add strength and safety to accelerate and brake swiftly, and suddenly you have plenty of energy to damage a car or other piece of property or hurt a human (yes I know cyclists also occasionally hurt humans). So therefore they will need insurance, and therefore need registration. And guess what, you can ride an electric scooter or bike at the speeds you mentioned, you just need to register and insure it. It is entirely possible and people do. What you are suggesting is a way to ride fast vehicles without the social contract of insurance and traceability.
    - dsfyu404ed 7y ago
      The fact that you're suggesting insurance and registration are to be expected for any class of vehicle short of a moped is completely foreign to me.
      - wwosik 7y ago
        In Switzerland you need it for bikes and they still manage
        dsfyu404ed 7y ago
        Being able to "manage" doesn't mean it's not a net negative on society. If everyone was required to insure stuffed animals it would be cheap and perfectly "manageable" because the risk would be so low and the overhead would be spread over society but that overhead would still be pissed away on something non-productive because the net benefit to society of insuring stuffed animals is so small.
      - ljf 7y ago
        Yup, it all needs insuring here - even the 35cc autocycle I used to have needed it - but it only needed a cheap daylight mot (no lights, indicators or speedo) and tax was £15 insurance was just £50 at the time. Being hit by a moped could easily cause life changing injuries, so I'm pleased to see them insured.
- monk_e_boy 7y ago
  I doubt the police would stop you. I can't believe you won't use one if it saves that much time! Be brave!
  - Blackstone4 7y ago
    I've only just started this commute so I'm thinking about it.... if I figure out that I can't get away with it then I'm stuck with a useless piece of kit.
    - NewsAware 7y ago
      Maybe not possible for you, but where I live (Germany) the obvious solution would be to get 2 cheap used bikes for both start/end legs and chain them at the station.
- adrianN 7y ago
  You could always get a non-electric kick scooter. Not quite as fast as the electric version, but faster than walking.
evibeefi 7y ago
First time ever I read that something is illegal in the UK but allowed in Germany... we made a step forward I guess!
easytiger 7y ago
In the UK, more specifically London, these are completely misused. Users act largely as pedestrians on ultra busy and extremely tiny ancient streets. They have no place here.

by Zenst 7y ago

Blackstone4 7y ago

I agree that it’s sad that e-scooters are banned in the UK. I take the train to work and I have ~20mins of waking either end (1 hr 20 mins per day total). An electric scooter could save me ~40 mins per day.... Why are electric scooters banned when e-bikes are fine? What if they were capped at 20mph? Below the 25 for bikes

smashah 7y ago
Ebikes are technically restricted to 15mph here. The micromobility laws in the UK are a complete joke and driven by car and tier 1 manufacturers lobbying (e.g Bosch via EU). EBikes and scooters are hands down the best solution to London's pollution issue yet people are getting fined for using them. There is a complete lack of logic in the rulings. The reason why escooters are illegal whereas EBikes are not: throttle. An ebike with a throttle is technically not legal and in the same boat as an escooter. This distinction is ridiculous as an ecyclist/scooterist with a throttle is safer than someone going the same speed under their own effort. The law in the UK should be: - throttle is allowed - fine if not wearing proper safety equipment - Speed limit increased to 25 mph or current vehicle speed limit (e.g 20 near schools) - no power limit (this allows heavier people to go the same speed as others, and it allows heavier cargo-type bikes to be much more useful) - Innovate UK/BEIS grants specifically for electric micromobility projects (right now EBikes and scooters are generally barred from these grant competitions)
- ljf 7y ago
  The speed limitation is down to the fact that they don't need insuring. Like pedal bikes the idea is that they will cause limited injury or damage to property in the event of a crash. Up things to 25mph, plus the frame/battery weight needed to add strength and safety to accelerate and brake swiftly, and suddenly you have plenty of energy to damage a car or other piece of property or hurt a human (yes I know cyclists also occasionally hurt humans). So therefore they will need insurance, and therefore need registration. And guess what, you can ride an electric scooter or bike at the speeds you mentioned, you just need to register and insure it. It is entirely possible and people do. What you are suggesting is a way to ride fast vehicles without the social contract of insurance and traceability.
  - dsfyu404ed 7y ago
    The fact that you're suggesting insurance and registration are to be expected for any class of vehicle short of a moped is completely foreign to me.
    - wwosik 7y ago
      In Switzerland you need it for bikes and they still manage
      - dsfyu404ed 7y ago
        Being able to "manage" doesn't mean it's not a net negative on society. If everyone was required to insure stuffed animals it would be cheap and perfectly "manageable" because the risk would be so low and the overhead would be spread over society but that overhead would still be pissed away on something non-productive because the net benefit to society of insuring stuffed animals is so small.
    - ljf 7y ago
      Yup, it all needs insuring here - even the 35cc autocycle I used to have needed it - but it only needed a cheap daylight mot (no lights, indicators or speedo) and tax was £15 insurance was just £50 at the time. Being hit by a moped could easily cause life changing injuries, so I'm pleased to see them insured.
monk_e_boy 7y ago
I doubt the police would stop you. I can't believe you won't use one if it saves that much time! Be brave!
- Blackstone4 7y ago
  I've only just started this commute so I'm thinking about it.... if I figure out that I can't get away with it then I'm stuck with a useless piece of kit.
  - NewsAware 7y ago
    Maybe not possible for you, but where I live (Germany) the obvious solution would be to get 2 cheap used bikes for both start/end legs and chain them at the station.
adrianN 7y ago
You could always get a non-electric kick scooter. Not quite as fast as the electric version, but faster than walking.

evibeefi 7y ago

First time ever I read that something is illegal in the UK but allowed in Germany... we made a step forward I guess!

easytiger 7y ago

In the UK, more specifically London, these are completely misused. Users act largely as pedestrians on ultra busy and extremely tiny ancient streets. They have no place here.