E-scooters have been “let loose on the public” with county councillors seeking the implementation of regulations to try provide some form of protection.
Ennis representative, Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) has revealed he was nearly knocked down in recent weeks by someone on an electric scooter. “I was lucky enough to avoid being struck, there are people who are much more vulnerable”.
In a proposal before the local authority, Cllr Gerry Flynn (IND) called on the Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan (GP) “to urgently put regulations in place to protect members of the public” from e scooters. He stated, “Some serious issues are materialising for vulnerable people and the use of guide dogs by the visually impaired is been compromised by the presence of these vehicles on footpaths.”
Speaking at a recent sitting of Clare County Council, the Shannon representative said e scooters “have been set loose on the public without regulations”. He continued, “They are mechanically propelled vehicles but the legislation won’t be in place until 2023, what happens if someone gets hit or injured before then”.
There are also dangers for persons with sensory issues, Cllr Donna McGettigan (SF) flagged, “I can’t hear them myself and you get a fright so I can only imagine what they are like for people with sensory issues”.
Mayor of Ennis, Cllr Ann Norton (IND) commented, “We do see a lot of the younger generation using mechanical vehicles and a lot of people using them to go to work and I think in the cities they are being used a lot more for the traffic element. I am not sure on the legality of them on footpaths, they come up beside you and a lot of the time you don’t hear them coming”.
While she acknowledged they may be good for the environment, Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF) admitted she “wouldn’t feel safe” to go on an e-scooter. Cllr Michael Begley (IND) said different issues are also arising in South-East Clare, “In my area, there are a lot of instances of two children on the one scooter, parental control is also needed”.
