Disability groups criticise Government’s e-scooter plan

The Government’s decision not to seek an age restriction for the use of e-scooters has been criticised by groups advocating for the rights of the physically challenged.

June Tinsley, head of advocacy and communications at the National Council for the Blind of Ireland (NCBI), said it was “disappointing that proposals to impose age limits on e-scooter usage will not now be included in the proposed legislation”.

She said the council was keen the legislation was as robust as possible to guarantee the safety of pedestrians who were blind or visually impaired as well as protecting the riders.

However, the organisation had not been told which, if any other measures, would be included in the final legislation.

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Ms Tinsley said “ key measures” should include the prohibition of e-scooter usage on footpaths, reducing the maximum speed limits, installing an audio feature in the design of e-scooters and imposing an age limit of 16 years that could be tied to a licence system.

According to research carried out among patients at Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown in Dublin last year, injuries sustained from e-scooters were severe and complex and frequently required surgery.

Study author and consultant orthopaedic surgeon Dr Ciara Fox said e-scooter crashes had resulted in injuries that were “quite extensive, complex injuries and even after surgical reconstruction patients had a high risk of post-traumatic arthritis”.

The research, published in the Irish Medical Journal entitled An Analysis of E-Scooter Related Trauma, looked at 22 patients treated at Connolly Hospital after being involved in an e-scooter incident between October 2019 and November 2020. Two of the patients were pedestrians.

Co-author Dr Margaret Grace said the burden on orthopaedic teams was significant and likely to increase with the popularity of e-scooters.

The study showed more than one-third of the patients treated were admitted to hospital for surgery and more than half of all patients did not have a full driving licence.

The analysis also found that one in four had less than a week of e-scooter driving experience, while 60 per cent said they had less than six months’ experience.

Footpath use

Last month, the NCBI, the Irish Wheelchair Association and the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind presented their concerns regarding the use of e-scooters in Ireland to the Oireachtas Committee on Transport. The three organisations also published a joint position paper asking politicians to propose and support amendments to the legislation to ensure e-scooters will be prohibited from use on footpaths and in shared spaces.

“The volume of e-scooter usage is increasing daily and it is vital that the correct legal frameworks and infrastructure is in place to ensure the safety of disabled pedestrians,” Ms Tinsley said.

In a recent NCBI survey, 57 per cent of its service users reported e-scooters reduced their confidence to walk or access the community.

John Fulham, public engagement manager with the Irish Wheelchair Association, said it was important the infrastructure introduced “does not place disabled people in a vulnerable position”.

Léan Kennedy, advocacy and policy officer with Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind, said clients were concerned about the use of e-scooters in relation to their safety.