Calls for 'radical action' on high speed e-scooters causing Kilkenny 'fear'
Do you think high speed e-scooters should be banned in Kilkenny City?
A Kilkenny councillor has called for an end to the ‘alarming number of serious injuries and fatalities’ as a result of irresponsible e-bike and e-scooter use.
In a motion passed at the latest sitting of the Kilkenny City Municipal District, Cllr Sean Ó hArgain requested Kilkenny County Council examine the bye-laws to ‘deal comprehensively’ with the issue.
The Labour Party councillor claimed there is “real fear” amongst locals due to the excessive speed used while e-bikes and e-scooters travel through the city.
Recent changes to legislation do not permit those under 16 from using e-scooters but that’s not enough in the local councillor’s eyes, claiming this law as well as helmet wearing, adequate lighting and the carrying of passengers are regularly flouted.
“We have all received numerous complaints from our constituents, many of them older citizens and indeed parents of young children who are learning to scoot and cycle so that they can become independent travellers themselves,” Cllr Ó hArgain told the meeting.
“They and indeed we are tired of vehicles whizzing past us on roadways, footpaths and even in cycle lanes at high speeds. It is a frightening experience for too many in our city.
“Indeed I was passed at lunchtime today by two underage young people using our city bike scheme electric bikes in a dangerous fashion,” he explained.
“Recent reports now suggest that the highest rate of head-related trauma injuries to Irish hospitals are caused by accidents from these vehicles.
“Despite the strong actions of An Garda Síochána, the restriction of these vehicles to 25 km an hour is regularly broken and some of the machines seized and destroyed are capable of travelling at over 100km an hour,” adding, “on a recent national councillors trip to Copenhagen, I was fascinated to see that there were no e-scooters present in a city,” Mr Ó hArgain noted.
“I am asking that we examine our bye-laws and not be afraid to take radical action of necessary. Improvements in our public bus service and our cycling and walking infrastructure, along with the appropriate use of our e-bike scheme can provide a real alternative to the type of behaviour which a minority of e-scooter and e-bike users are engaging in.”