Dudley Council is preparing to implement a ban on e-scooters in town centres to address the growing problem of reckless and illegal riders causing serious injuries. This decision follows a unanimous agreement at the council meeting on July 13, when councillors passed a Notice of Motion presented by Liberal Democrat Councillor Andrew Tromans.
The motion emphasized the risks posed by the illegal use of privately-owned e-scooters, which account for approximately 82% of the estimated one million e-scooters in operation nationwide. Councillor Tromans highlighted a recent incident in Stourbridge where a 73-year-old woman was struck by an e-scooter, resulting in severe bruising to her eyes, arm, and leg. The victim was hospitalized and is still recovering.
“Government statistics indicate that e-scooter accidents exceed 1,400 annually, with nearly 500 serious injuries and multiple fatalities each year,” said Councillor Tromans. “Riding privately owned e-scooters on public roads is illegal unless they belong to an authorized rental scheme, which we do not have in our borough.”
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Councillor Ryan Priest expressed concern over public awareness, stating, “Many people in Dudley probably don’t know this. Parents often buy e-scooters for their children without realizing the legal restrictions.”
The council motion also calls for the exploration of Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) to prohibit the use of privately-owned e-scooters in town centres, aiming to improve public safety.
In addition to this, Dudley Council recently introduced a stringent anti-social behaviour (ASB) policy. This includes the deployment of drones to monitor offenders and the potential eviction of tenants involved in ASB from council housing.
Councillor Simon Phipps, cabinet member for economy and infrastructure, supports the controlled, legal use of e-scooters in urban areas but stresses the need for collaboration with police and partners to address dangerous riders. “We’ve encountered riders, some wearing balaclavas, speeding on electric bicycles and scooters with no registration, making them difficult to track. The new drone surveillance helps tackle this.”
Council leader Councillor Patrick Harley reinforced the message to families: “Tenants are responsible for everyone living in their household. This new tenancy agreement aligns with our ASB policy to ensure real consequences for problematic behaviour.”
Dudley Council’s decisive action reflects growing concerns over the safety risks posed by unregulated e-scooter use and aims to protect the public from further incidents.