Cllr: Laws needed on e-scooters
Legislation regulating the proper use of e-scooters and e-bikes in Ireland must be put into force as soon as possible, a Cork County Councillor has said.
With new garda figures showing 791 traffic accidents involving e-scooters in Ireland last year, Fianna Fáil Cllr Ian Doyle has urged the Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan TD to fast track proposed legislation which has yet to be passed into law.
E-scooters and e-bikes have become increasingly popular in Ireland in recent years as a cheap and environmentally friendly means of transport.
Speaking at a meeting of Cork County Council on Monday, Cllr Doyle said young children are using e-scooters to get to school and regulations on speed and usage must be brought in to prevent further accidents.
“Since Christmas I think every 2nd young person has got an e-bike or an e-scooter as a present and they're actually going to school on them,” said Cllr Doyle.
He added: “I witnessed the other day in Charleville - I was pulled up in traffic - 2 lads coming from school and to be quite honest with you, the speed on the footpath, if there was an elderly person crossing that footpath, I would have witnessed an accident, there's no question about it.” Cllr Doyle went on to propose a 25kmph speed limit for e-scooters and e-bikes, which is in line with proposed legislation currently being considered by Government but said even that is far too fast for travelling along a footpath.
Sinn Féin’s Danielle Twomey said: “Over Christmas I have seen a huge increase and one particular incident really scared me.
“I was driving from Castlemartyr to Lady's Bridge which is a small, narrow, winding road and I came across 2 children on an electric scooter. One I'd say was about 5, in front of the other one, black clothes in the rain and I could barely see them.”
Fianna Fáil Cllr Seamus McGrath added that he felt there needs to be promotional coverage on television Road Safety Authority (RSA).
It was agreed that Cork County Council would send a letter to Minister Ryan on the issue.