Many people, me included, are in favour of reducing vehicle usage by adopting walking, cycling and e-scootering etc. Guide Dogs sent me an email template to forward to East Herts District Councillors regarding the current national e-scooter trials - and - safety issues relating to pedestrians, especially those with sight loss.
I've attached the (pdf) text of the email sent to Councillors (Rosemary B & Mari S) and wonder what others think about e-scooters in the context of sustainable transport methods. In principle. I think they're great, although I understand that Teesside, one of the first authorities to take part in the government's national pilot scheme, has encountered a few problems.
What seriously worries me in Hertford, is that we don't even prevent the use of cycles on pavements, with some cyclists even expecting pedestrians to stand aside so they can whizz past. Having already seen e-scooters being used on pavements - pavements that are often extremely narrow due to obstructive pavement parking, walking is set to become even more stressful and thus for some, less desirable.
As has already been mentioned, dedicated cycle / e-scooter paths have to be in place, pavement parking needs and hopefully will be regulated thus leaving pavements as 'safer' places to walk on, especially for: people with disabilities; schoolchildren; parents with buggies; those carrying shopping and dog walkers.
Just to say that Cllr Rosemary Bolton responded to say she had contacted Officers at EHDC. It seems that there are no plans for trialling e-scooters in East Herts.
Given that some people are starting to use these on pavements it was suggested that this dangerous practice is raised with the police.
While I agree that the matter should be flagged up with the police, the reality is that enforcement won't happen, as it doesn't with pavement cycling.
We're back to dedicated travel lanes and the need for them ASAP.
Coincidentally, I again encountered an e-scooter zooming towards me whilst walking down Ware Road this afternoon. It seems that cars still rule despite what the HCC Transport Strategy says.