Not private ones, and by Saturday.  Helmets not even mandatory.   Scary stuff...

Personally I think there will be a massive take up of these one they are legalised - clearly there will be huge issues as well in terms of safety / impact on other road users / NMU's and the like but my experience of them in Prague last year was pretty positive

I think the approval will be in effect to make them the same class as (electric) bikes, so on road (supposedly) and helmet optional as with pushbikes - and lets face it less than an inch of foam isn't going to stop more than a scratch (or cars/rucks/planes would be built of polystyrene).

I really don't think it's a good idea for the UK!

 

Here in Germany it works as we already have an amazing cycling infrastructure with almost always having separate cycle paths, lights and priority over other road users at junctions etc.

 

In the UK it's just chaos sharing the roads with other road users. And having these scooters wizzing through traffic is just going to be a nightmare!

Boris, Grant, Alok & cronies & Conservative backers will have their investments into the rental companies.

 

It will end up in courts because of lack of a genuine free market and competition.

As it is there are going to have to be lights & reflectors fitted and the laws passed not just for England and Wales but Scotland & Northern Ireland before they can actually say 'Legal in the UK'.  Then the age thing and minimum age to be able to rent on the 4 nations that make up the UK.

Here in Germany they actually have tiny little number plates and they're registered with the same state department as cars (registered as a vehicle). It's a legal requirement to have insurance. But they're exempt from TÜV (MOT).

 

So the UK needs to try and do something similar.

Easy,

Finger print start up to power the scooter, or swipe cards issued @ Local Bus pass / Oyster Card type establiblisments issuing, even velcro on patch with National Insurance number & photo ID  that must be worn on an arm band or a  hi-viz vest when scootering on roads.

With a bar code that those renting must scan along with the renters ID and a bar code on the scooter.

They are going to be at charge places / pickup points to just use and abuse, finger print needed is easy enough.

(My phone is pretty crap though with finger print recognition when finger is wet.)

 

Only issue is the UK has no ID cards, and the government has no idea who is in and out the country as no need to carry a passport or even have one.

So the UK is a free for all and tracing people has not gone well.

IT is not up to much with the UK Government or departments and the DVLA can not keep up to licensed drivers and illegals let alone scooterists.

 

Edited 30 June, 20205 yr by Roottootemblowinootsoot

The braking must be really compromised on those, I cant see them having anywhere near the retardation of a bicycle before sending the rider over the handlebars.

 

Those of you who unlike me ride push bikes from this century will be able to tell me if those small disc brakes would be up to the job.

 

Do they have front & rear brakes?

 

A girl was behind me on one at some traffic lights in town but due to only being able to see her head & shoulders in the rear view mirror (no helmet) I thought she was on a bicycle until she kept up with me stuck to my rear bumper like any French road user to what seemed like 30mph, it totally freaked me out and I was really concerned if I had to brake suddenly as we were in dense traffic.

Edited 30 June, 20205 yr by J.R.

'Required to have a driving license'.   'A trial starts'.    'Across the UK.'

 

I still doubt that Scotland are going to be OK with this unless Grant Shapps, the DVSA / DVLA & the DfT have the agreement of the Scottish Government to the trial.

I hereby predict...

 

In a few months we'll have reports of -

 

antisocial use of scooters

scooters abandoned in random places

scooters being used to start big fires

drunk people using scooters crashing into crowds causing injuries

the first reports of deaths by hire scooter accident

 

In six months we'll have -

 

Reports of a significant number of deaths of scooter users. A combination of losing control and heads being hit without helmets, and ploughing into traffic and ending up under buses.

Police reqests for new laws etc to prosecute misuse of scooters

Knee jerk legislation restricting use of the scooters to counter bad press about the deaths due to an "ill considered choice by Government in June"

 

In 12 months -

 

The death of the scooter hire industry as everyone realised that it's a bit of a stupid idea and you're better off with an electric bicycle or car

If some sort of private scooter legislation was put in place then I reckon it would be a good idea. Is the rental scheme a bit of a testing bed?
Maybe similar to the ‘non herd immunity’ system about to start on 4th July regarding something else? Oops that’s potentially a controversial statement and definitely OT! 

How do you start a bog fire with an electric scooter?

 

Restricting them to 25 kph is a good idea but it should be 20kph which is more representative of the max average speed of the majority of urban cyclists.

 

OK they will get overtaken by fitter cyclists and on downhill sections but their overall journey time will not be any longer than if they were to cycle and were moderately fit.

 

What is the restricted maximum speed of road legal E-bikes?

1 hour ago, J.R. said:

What is the restricted maximum speed of road legal E-bikes?

 

15.5mph is the cut-off for motorised power in the UK.  I topped out at just over 40mph coming down from Beachy Head earlier today - way too fast for my liking, so I chickened out pretty quick.

 

It's interesting to see these scooters can have a 500w motor, but e-bikes are restricted to 250w.  A bit of semantics really as it only relates to the label on the motor, as most motors can deliver considerably more.  But there is a point here.  My 250w e-bike has 28" wheels, a 500w scooter with diddy wheels will require a lot less leverage to turn the wheel, so they're presumably going to be quite a bit more torquey than my bike.

 

Gaz

Edited 1 July, 20205 yr by IamGaz

3 hours ago, J.R. said:

How do you start a bog fire with an electric scooter?

 

 

Lithium batteries are pretty impressive if thrown on a fire or even just punctured.

 

Starting a fire in a bog is difficult but bog gasses are flammable in enough volume.

 

 

I'm sure the rental ones will be of better quality but any damage to a lithium battery can result in a fire.

 

Edited 1 July, 20205 yr by Aspman

16 hours ago, J.R. said:

The braking must be really compromised on those, I cant see them having anywhere near the retardation of a bicycle before sending the rider over the handlebars.

 

Those of you who unlike me ride push bikes from this century will be able to tell me if those small disc brakes would be up to the job.

 

Do they have front & rear brakes?

 

A girl was behind me on one at some traffic lights in town but due to only being able to see her head & shoulders in the rear view mirror (no helmet) I thought she was on a bicycle until she kept up with me stuck to my rear bumper like any French road user to what seemed like 30mph, it totally freaked me out and I was really concerned if I had to brake suddenly as we were in dense traffic.

 If they're anything like the ones here, the brakes are very powerful. They also have regenerative braking. Front and rear brakes. And when you brake you can feel the Regen kick in.

 

Also when you release the throttle the Regen Kicks in but not as strong and you can slow to a stop.

 

Going down hill they use Regen to keep in to the speed limit.

 

They also use GPS to automatically drive slower in the pedestrian zones where you're only allowed to drive at walking pace (7kmh).

That sounds really well thought out Phil and I reckon they will soon find their place and be welcomed on the urban roads.

 

In an emergency stop could you brake as quick on one of those as you could on a bicycle? And if so would you not be flipped over the handlebar?

 

Or do they have pitch sensors as well that reduce the braking force or bias it to the rear?

I've not had to do an emergency stop on one but certainly stopped quickly on them (while wizzing around and having fun of course) and they feel super stable.

 

I think because they are so heavy the weight is down low, the wheels and tyres are relatively big and you tend to lean back slightly with most of your weight towards your back foot.

The bigger the front wheel the better the resistance to pitch when braking, the heavier and lower the battery pack is the more it will counteract the riders C of G being above the front axle.

 

I'm sure they are very stable to ride but when braking the drivers weight will no longer be on the rear foot and its the position of his C of G that will be the critical factor.

 

For most of my life I have had nightmares where I am riding a bike and go over the handlebars when the front brake snatches, sometimes I am driving a car and the same thing happens!!

 

A shrink would probably tell me what it reveals, I think its simply because I did go flying over a few times as a kid.

 

 

http://bbc.co.uk/news/technology-53253194

 

 

 

 

 

Edited 2 July, 20205 yr by Roottootemblowinootsoot

8 hours ago, J.R. said:

The bigger the front wheel the better the resistance to pitch when braking, the heavier and lower the battery pack is the more it will counteract the riders C of G being above the front axle.

 

I'm sure they are very stable to ride but when braking the drivers weight will no longer be on the rear foot and its the position of his C of G that will be the critical factor.

 

For most of my life I have had nightmares where I am riding a bike and go over the handlebars when the front brake snatches, sometimes I am driving a car and the same thing happens!!

 

A shrink would probably tell me what it reveals, I think its simply because I did go flying over a few times as a kid.

 

Could be worse -

 

I saw this when I was tkaing M/C lessons. Thought that was quite scary. I've never got close to a highside but I have felt the shimmy of a tank slapper a few times

 

 

e-scooter rider in Scotland charged with offences for riding it on pavement.

 

This will need to get sorted in Law in Scotland.

Motorised mobility trikes / sit on scooters & electric wheel chairs are allowed on pavements, pedestrian precincts etc  and if the gentleman is actually disabled he might well be able to use this as a defence if prosecuted.  The power output of those and mobility scooters / wheelchairs used on pavements or roads are what is makes the difference.

No licence or insurance required.  The road wheelchair / scooters can be registered with the DVLA.

Stand on Scooters with engines are a different matter, people have been charged with using them for many years now.

Same with Skate Boards and Long boards with petrol engines.

& if they can exceed 8mph.

Electric powered vehicles without pedals are rather different, but how much different time will tell in a Scottish Court possibly.

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/disabled-man-left-stunned-after-22387358

 

 

Edited 21 July, 20205 yr by Roottoot

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/07/21/charity-warns-e-scooter-fire-risk-trials-begin-road-use-uk/

 

"Commuters are being warned that e-scooters could catch fire and explode due to risky batteries, with a safety charity urging owners only to buy replacements from reputable sellers."

3 minutes ago, Aspman said:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/07/21/charity-warns-e-scooter-fire-risk-trials-begin-road-use-uk/

 

"Commuters are being warned that e-scooters could catch fire and explode due to risky batteries, with a safety charity urging owners only to buy replacements from reputable sellers."

As safe as a Vauxhall Zafira then.