E-scooter explosion turning footpaths into the ‘wild west’

The rise in the popularity of e-scooters has turned footpaths into the “wild west”, prompting urgent calls for more regulation and enforcement.

The e-scooter boom has turned footpaths into the “wild west”, prompting calls for more regulation and enforcement.

Transport and law researcher Ciprian Radavoi said laws for e-scooters across Australia had been designed almost exclusively with rider safety and comfort in mind, endangering vulnerable people.

“The risks to pedestrian are much higher. It’s like flesh against metal,’’ he said.

Although e-scooters are not allowed on Victorian footpaths, pedestrians and other users were often still at risk.

Victoria Walks executive officer Ben Rossiter said illegal use was rampant.

“And the very small number of fines that have been issued are only the tip of the iceberg,” he said.

E-scooters in Victoria have a 20km/h speed limit – although many are capable of higher speeds – and are allowed in bike lanes, shared paths and roads with a speed limit of 50km/h or less.

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Dr Radavoi, from the Charles Darwin University’s Asia Pacific College of Business and Law, said footpaths had become like the “wild west” and called for more uniform regulation over where and how e-scooters could operate.

“Pedestrians, people in wheelchairs, or cultural and ethnic groups who traditionally socialise on footpaths have been largely ignored by the policy makers,” Dr Radavoi said.

“Imagine that you’re walking with your partner with your five-year-old child and this machine has 150kg, if you count the rider, and it’s running into at 25km/h, it’s not a good thing.’’

Public share e-scooters are being trialled in four inner-city Melbourne councils, but privately owned scooters are increasingly common, especially as some commuters are shunning public transport because of Covid and flu fears.

Rental e-scooters are being trialled in the Melbourne CBD. Picture: Mark Stewart

Mr Rossiter said e-scooters only appealed to a small demographic.

“E-scooters may have a place but they are not as sustainable and healthy as walking and should not come at a cost to people walking.’’

Mr Rossiter also said issues have also emerged around insurance for the e-scooter trial, which despite being told injured and innocent walkers would be covered in crashes, the operators nullify the policy if the riders do anything illegal, including not wearing a helmet.

Last month, police clocked a 45-year-old scooter allegedly travelling at 58 km/h on a Dandenong street.

And earlier this year, police fined more than 210 e-scooter riders in a two-week crackdown on illegal behaviour with not wearing a helmet the most common offence.