Scooter ‘nuisance’ to get 'even worse'

Transport Secretary reveals new plans to legalise E-scooters

Louise Haigh, the Transport Secretary discussed plans to legalise use of independent E-scooters on public roads at PMQs last Wednesday. More scooters will be on the road soon if a new bill is passed, which one person claimed would ‘become a bigger nuisance than they already are’.

E-scooters are only available to rent in test areas according to regulations set in place in 2020. Oxford is one of these test areas. 

Catherine from Kidlington said: "I am not impacted personally by the scooters and think it is good that they are convenient for people”.

The Scooters are highly popular amongst students that have jobs as they provide a quick method of transportation around the city. They are also convenient due to not being able to drive in the city centre.

Ursi recounted the heart-breaking story of her daughter's support dog getting hit by a scooter on the pavement and the rider not stopping: “How can someone hear a dog yelp and think it’s okay to just drive off”.

If the number of scooters increases, there will be an increased number of people on the pavements which is not even allowed within the rules.

Other people in Oxford have also been highly critical of the scooters. Some pedestrians think they clutter the streets, believing that the Voi stations juxtapose the traditional architecture of Oxford which people work hard to maintain.

When walking the streets it is easy to come across multiple people on one scooter, people not wearing helmets, and not obeying road regulations. 

There is an ongoing issue with electric bikes being modified to break the speed limits set in place, often used by Deliveroo drivers one student said. This could become an issue if people were allowed to use their own scooters.

Users of these scooters do not need a licence which is highly contested because they are motorised vehicles and are sharing the roads with cars.