E-scooter ban ‘wrongheaded’
By Finnian Cox
A Cork city councillor has described the decision to ban e-scooters from public transport as “wrongheaded”.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) made the decision to ban them from buses and trains due to concerns over fire-risks.
The lithium-ion batteries used in the scooters are known to develop faults when used regularly, which can lead to overheating, and in some cases combustion.
Green Party Cllr Oliver Moran said there were genuine concerns at the heart of the decision, but that he still felt it was wrong. Acknowledging the potential dangers of the scooters, he expressed disappointment for what the ban might mean for those who use e-scooters.
“E-scooters have been transformative in how young people get around and have encouraged the use of multiple types of public transport,” said Cllr Moran.
He also described the scooters as “a very important bridge between these different types of public transport,” explaining they present an efficient way for commuters to get to train stations or bus stops.
Cllr Moran also commented on their importance for commuters who don’t drive, describing their inexpensiveness as a great incentive to move people away from cars.
According to a statement by the NTA, e-bikes and mobility scooters will not be included in the ban, as they “do not pose the same level of risk”.
The NTA said due to them being only recently regulated, the quality control of e-scooters is “not as mature or well developed as e-bikes and mobility scooters, which have been regulated for longer”.
Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan said that he believes there will be a return of the scooters to public transport in the future, once they are better regulated. The ban will apply to all public transport services overseen by the NTA, including Iarnród Éireann, Bus Éireann, TFI Local Link, Dublin Bus and the Luas.
Similar restrictions have been put in place in Berlin and the UK, following instances where lithium-ion batteries combusted on public transport in Madrid and Barcelona. The decision was welcomed by the National Bus and Rail Union (NBRU) who said it would protect drivers and passengers.