To legalize electric scooters on British roads, protesters demand

Activists who wanted electric scooters to be legal on the roads staged a protest at Downing Street, claiming that there had been a "crackdown" on the use of vehicles.

The protesters went to the Prime Minister's home with their electronic scooters to request a change to what they called an "outdated" law.

Electric scooters, which typically cost hundreds or even thousands of pounds, are similar to kids' clbadic scooters, but are powered by an engine and can therefore reach a speed of 30 mph or more.

Their popularity has increased, but many people do not realize they are breaking the law by driving them on roads and sidewalks. They can only legally be used on private land in the UK.

Riders may be given £ 300 notice and six points on their driver's license if caught.

Activists said the Road Traffic Act was a necessary update and that electric scooters were an environmentally friendly alternative to cars.

But they sparked security concerns, which were exacerbated last month when Emily Hartridge, TV host and YouTuber, became the first person in the UK to be murdered while driving an electric scooter. .

Some British commentators believe that electric scooters should have a license plate and that cyclists should wear a helmet, respect the rules of the road and be required to pay insurance and a traffic tax.

Peter Williams, 22, who organized the protest, said the authorities had banned the use of electronic scooters.

"We want there to be legislation around that that will make people safer and we basically want people to have the option of choosing a green mode of transportation rather than using, for example , buses or diesel cars, "he added.

"How is it fair to pursue those who are making a change in our city to reduce congestion, pollution and the risk of death in automobile collisions?

However, a new US study found that electric scooter sharing systems were not as eco-friendly as they seemed.

Researchers at North Carolina State University found that the materials needed to make the frame, wheels and battery, and the collection of scooters, their loading and return to the streets at the end of each day, spawned more greenhouse gas emissions. forms of transport.

At the same time as the Downing Street protest, the Oxfordshire police reported the identity of an electric skateboard rider who died as a result of an accident. Bradley Visser, 38, died 10 days later.

An electric scooter test at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London has been extended, although their widespread deployment is illegal.

The Ministry of Transport said the government is considering how e-scooters could be regulated for safe use on the road, while encouraging innovative new modes of transportation.

Transport for London stated that if the ban on vehicles ended, the maximum speeds and restrictions on where they could be driven should be part of the new warranties.