A woman living with rheumatoid arthritis has spoken out about the dangers and harassment she faces from e-scooter and e-bike users while walking on the footpath. She revealed that near-collisions have forced her to step into busy roads to avoid these electric vehicles, which she describes as a menace.
Sharing her experience on a popular parenting forum, she expressed frustration at being sworn at simply for using the pavement, a space designated for pedestrians. “I am sick of being terrified on the pavement,” she wrote, condemning some riders for reckless behavior and criticizing parents who buy these devices for their children as “selfish and stupid.”
Her post struck a chord with others, many agreeing on the dangers posed by illegally ridden e-scooters and e-bikes. One commenter echoed her concerns about having to dodge illegal riders and called for stronger measures against them. Another highlighted the serious risk of injury at speeds around 20 mph, emphasizing that pedestrians are highly vulnerable.
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Further replies detailed local incidents, including one involving a teenager riding recklessly with a toddler on an e-scooter, suggesting a widespread problem with enforcement. Several contributors called for tougher crackdowns, noting the illegality of e-scooters on public roads and pavements, advocating their use be restricted to private property with the owner’s permission.
This conversation underscores growing public unease about the safety, legality, and social impact of e-scooters and e-bikes when used irresponsibly in pedestrian spaces, particularly by vulnerable groups such as disabled individuals.