Yes it does actually. The problem is the suspect quality of the Lithium Ion batteries and associated hardware we're seeing brought onto trains at the moment - due in part I think due to their illegality. Another factor is that they're underslung on a scooter and more prone to getting damaged.
Indeed - fully agree
The difference is that e-Scooters are illegal to ride in the UK and this is reflected in the repute of many of the places you can buy them from. Mobile phones, power banks and laptops are perfectly legal and arguably the quality of such devices is generally better than we're seeing in e-Scooters at present. e-Scooter batteries are also considerably larger and more explosive in the right circumstances.
Furthermore, they are not legal on footpaths, therefore the public areas on railway property are effectively pedestrian areas so the precedent is there to ban them. It's also interesting to note that dangerous behaviour on stations mirrors that on pavements, so not surprising that some here think they should be allowed on the railway, conveniently forgetting their frequent misuse and general unsuitability for use in all pedestrian areas.
They can be ridden on private land, which is why the police aren't cracking down on these actually being sold.
Indeed. The hire scheme scooters also tend to be much heavier and solidly-built than the personal ones. Not to mention that the battery charging is done in a dedicated facility with the batteries simply exchanged on the street if necessary.
They are not illegal to ride in the UK.
Ok - let's add some context then. Where in the UK can you legally ride a personal e-Scooter to a railway station?
Because they are lagal to ride on private land that doesn't qualify them to be allowed on the railway which might be 'private land' in a strictly legal sense, but the railway is a public place and unless the railway accepts liability for all injuries and damage cause by their use on their land it should refuse.
Depends if the stations are within their geo-fence. If not, I suspect either it won't be allowed to work, the brake will lock on, an alarm will sound, and you'll be in hot water with the hire firm.
A mobility scooter is intended for those with reduced mobility, who are protected under the Equality Act. E-scooters obviously don’t serve the same purpose.
Indeed, but who is pushing along an e-scooter? Some do on platforms, but the majority I see are ridden.
You are correct in the strict sense that they can be carried, however thanks to the behaviour of the majority of current owners, scooters will effectively be banned from pedestrian areas.
You've missed the point of my sentence entirely. I was commenting on battery safety, not legality.
Are you sure about pushing? A 15 year old friend of mine once got "done" for pushing a motor bike in a public park, nowhere near a road.
Careful here. Footpaths, bridleways etc. are about what you have a right to do. The landowner can permit use beyond those rights. There is no law banning either riding cycles or e-scooters on footpaths crossing private land, it would be a matter of trespass.
@Bletchleyite was referring to pushing pedal cycles, not motor bikes. Public parks often have byelaws prohibiting all sorts of things.
A 10mph speed limit would remove a lot of the usefulness, the ones involved in the official trials are 15.5mph (25kph) limited...
However obstruction can be prosecuted and the law is being reinforced to the same standard as the London area giving local authorities the power to stop parking (anything) on a public footpath. To date scooters and cycles - especially hired ones, are proving to be not only a nuisance but in some cases a hazard to legitimate pavement users.
E-bikes are different from E-scooters. E-bikes (the legal ones) cannot move under their own power, the motor can only provide assistance to pedalling up to about 15 mph and has a limited power output. This ensures E-bikes come under the same category as conventional bicycles. E-scooters are closer to motorbikes.
If you are walking and pushing a bicycle, you are a pedestrian. I fail to see how it is different from pushing a trolley.
A bicycle would be similar to a trolley in that respect but for far too many there is the unresistable temptation to ride them.
