More than 750 complaints about the misuse of e-Scooters have been lodged since the introduction of the eco-friendly vehicles on the Isle of Wight.
In November 2020, Beryl brought over the first e-Scooters as part of a 12-month partnership with the Isle of Wight Council. The scheme has continued and grown over the last 15 months, expanding to more towns as well as the launch of an e-Bike rental pilot.
The scheme has been met with mixed reactions, from those welcoming the sustainable transport option to others who are concerned about safety.
Now, figures revealed in a Freedom of Information request show that between November 2020 and November 2021, a total of 1,004 misuse reports were filed with the Isle of Wight Council. The misuse reports come from 749 complaints — with complaints able to log more than 1 category of misuse.
The misuse fell into different categories including:
- 87 for anti-social behaviour
- 178 for dangerous driving on the road
- 235 for riding with a passenger
- 141 for underage rider
- 363 for riding on a pavement
The Independent Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS) is calling on the government to act decisively on the growing problems of unsafe and illegal e-Scooter use.
Using the e-Scooter trials taking place in 31 areas across the country, PACTS is recommending that if the government looks to legalise the use of private e-Scooters, it should adopt 14 safety regulations including a maximum speed limit of 12.5mph and mandatory helmet wearing.
David Davies, PACTS executive director, has said:
“E-Scooters are a controversial issue and risks to riders and pedestrians are increasingly apparent. The government should act now to curb dangerous and illegal use.
“Even if the government decides on the way forward soon, legislation will not take effect until sometime next year. They should take this opportunity to gather evidence and consult widely.”
To report misuse you can contact Beryl by phone or email, 07:00-21:00, 7 days a week. either emailing [email protected] or calling 020 3003 5044.
Mandatory helmet wearing would probably sort out a lot of problems. Kids much less likely to carry around helmets. And police would have a clear line in the sand to stop people.
I doubt it would happen though cos not mandatory for cycling.
The idiots on scooters come towards vehicles, they scoot up 1 way roads in the wrong direction.
There seems to be no law and order for these Scooters
There is, but the problem is policing it. Old Bill have enough trouble dealing with ‘bad’ car driving…
2020, 12 month partnership….. and still going strong.
BBC reports more than 1000 complaints of misuse!
They should all be crushed, they are an Health Hazard
But how do you report ?,if easier then would get few thousand more.
They say report misuse to Beryl. Yeah, ‘cos it’s not like they don’t have a vested interest in sweeping complaints under the carpet do they?
Does this include the reports made as per their own website to Beryl themselves, probably not as they are unlikely to pass them on, and also the many comments made by the general public that do not have the time or know how to file a complaint.
Barely a day goes by along the Gurnard to Cowes seafront that one can spot either young children using them and or they are being riden on the pavement!
Contact beryl to report misuse like they will do anything about it all they care about is the money they are making from them.
These Scooters should come with Helmets.
If a serious accident takes place I would imagine the scooter operator is liable for
Not supplying an Health and Safety Helmet
Helmets come in lots of different sizes because not everyone’s head is the same size. As these ridiculous vehicles are simply picked up in the street by anyone, where are the helmets going to be stored? These things are a proven menace, being totally misused, so presumably the council are getting a big fat envelope to continue to allow their use.
The helmets would need to have a British safety kite mark, which apparently, cycle helmets don’t even have yet but Horse Riding hats do. Until then, you may as well put a plastic bucket on your head.
I know a few people who would be improved by a bucket on their heads!
There is nothing “eco friendly” about any toxic battery vehicle, bike or car. poison to make, even worse when scrapped, even come with a bit of slavery thrown in apparently.
Dont forget it is not just the beryl scooters but those owned privately and used without insurance etc most of the time by kids
It’s more than likely any incidents or accidents caused by the behaviour of the user will render the user with the injuries. So they know the risks, understand the risks and take the risks . . . who cares.
Until there is an unacceptable level of fatalities then any thing else is just the usual background whinging and shouldn’t effect any income for Beryl.
Easily cure get rid.
Useless waste of space!
The usual uneducated nonsense from those that have nothing better to do than post negative made up comments. We are in the 21st century, not the 18th. Deal with it.
yeah ikr, ppl mad they have to drive around
Over 1,000 complaints in one year – and that’s just from the people who can be bothered to make a complaint – which means nearly 3 complaints every single day of the year. Given the relatively small number of e-scooters on the Island, that’s seems like an extraordinarily high number. Surely even an organisation so inept as our Council must realise there’s a problem?
These scooters can only be hired by an adult with a full driving licence. Hirers who allow underage, unqualified people to use these illegally should have points put on their licence as they are misusing their licence rights. This could prevent many of these illegal incidents happening especially if everyone reports (preferably with a photo) to the police and Beryl. If they are inundated with complaints they will have to do something about it.
Not correct. Provisional licence holders can hire them also.
I phoned Beryl to complain after I saw a group of 5 teens riding these the wrong way along Ryde High St, the then continued into the pedestrianised area, again riding the opposite direction to that of the delivery vehicles (that are supposed to be the only vehicles to use the precinct – which is completely ignored)Beryls primary concerns was whether I had reported it to the police, I said I hadnt but would do so when I got off the phone – which I did. Never heard another word from either, despite these scooters having GPS, so my report could easily be checked, and they would be aware of who the offenders were as they had hired the scooters
What I had been intending to add to my previous comment, but ran out of permitted characters, was that after my report of 5 teens riding the wrong way along a one way street and the lack of interest by Beryl and the police, I haven’t bothered reporting the other offences I have seen by these scooters. I would imagine that is Beryls intention by insisting I report it to the police. Almost everyone I speak to are totally fed up by the police and their lack of willingness to enforce the laws we have all funded to be put in place, and are paying them to enforce.
This is why any compliant figures are a joke. More accurate figures would be around the 7500 mark, given that only one in ten probably bother to make a complaint – as complaints usuall fall on deaf ears.
With the police, only easy targets interest them. Had a van broken into years ago, police had no interest finding the scum, prefering to investigate me for potential insurance fraud. Idiots.
Now I know how important figures are, I’ll be making sure my complaints are heard.
Trouble is ever giving police their discretion whether to apply a law to one individual or not…this enables them to exercise their prejudices at will, and you can be sure if they hold a grudge against you due to past dealings with you, either collectively or individually, you can be certain that everything they can pin on you will be taken advantage of