A west of Ireland road safety officer has issued a reminder that it is currently illegal to use a privately owned e-scooter on public roads, pavements or cycle paths.
Mayo County Council’s Road Safety Office said that E-scooters are becoming increasingly common as people look for alternatives to public transport, or ways to reduce car use. However, in Ireland, the only place to legally ride an e-scooter is on private land with the permission of the land owner – everywhere else it is against the law.
“Currently in Ireland it is not possible to tax or insure e-scooters for use in a public place. Some e-scooters are classed as Mechanically Propelled Vehicles (MPVs ) and they require a license, tax and insurance. They cannot be used on public footpaths.
“In an attempt to correct this position the Government have announced plans to introduce new legislation. Under the Road Traffic (Miscellaneous Provisions ) Bill 2021 (the 2021 Bill ), a new vehicle category, ‘Powered Personal Transporters’, would be created to allow use of e-scooters and similar devices in public without any necessity for driving license, tax or insurance. This would essentially treat e-scooters in a similar manner to pedal bicycles, although more powerful models will be treated as light mopeds.
“Under the Bill it is expected a number of safety measures proposed by e-scooter service operators will be introduced including a minimum age for use of 16 years; compulsory helmets for those aged between 16 and 18; an upper speed limit of 25km/h; and a ban of use on footpaths.
“The road safety office in Mayo County Council is highlighting the impact e-scooter use is having, particularly for those with sight or hearing loss. It is also advising anyone who is contemplating purchasing or using an e-scooter, that they are risking being issued with a fine and having the e-scooter seized.”
Noel Gibbons, Mayo County Council Road Safety officer added: “Some people may not realise that they are affecting anyone by illegally riding an e-scooter, but they can be incredibly frightening to someone with sight or hearing loss or older road-users.
“We are asking people to consider how they would feel if they, or a member of their family with a visual or hearing impairment, were genuinely afraid of being knocked down by an e-scooter every time they went out.
“We are aware that some people are riding e-scooters on the pavement with no regard for the safety of others. This is totally unacceptable and we are grateful that our Garda colleagues are taking robust action against these individuals.”
Clare Cronin, Communications Manager the Disability Federation of Ireland said: “E-scooters are powered mobility vehicles. it is common sense they should never operate on footpaths which are designed for pedestrians. They create an unacceptable risk to all pedestrians but especially those with mobility impairments.”
