E Scooters: 'We are calling for very rigorous standards'

Available for over a year

On Wednesday this week, MPs on the Transport Select Committee at Westminster held a session to evaluate ongoing e-scooter trials. There's been a mixed reception to their introduction following lockdown in places like Birmingham, Wolverhampton and West Brom. Among the witnesses giving evidence was Clive Wood who represents the interests of the visually impaired community and fellow guide dog users, Guide Dogs have been very vocal in highlighting the dangers of unregulated use of e-scooters. Research done by Guide Dogs suggests that nearly 75% of people with sight loss who have encountered an e-scooter have had a negative experience. Visually impaired people are already being forced to change their behaviour because of e-scooters, with some changing their regular routes and others not leaving home alone. It should be noted that privately owned e-scooters are only allowed to be used on private land, and only the scooters available to hire in city centres should be ridden on public roads.