Calls for e-scooters to be banned in Derby's city centre
A Councillor is calling them a "nuisance" to pedestrians
Last updated 8th Mar 2024
A Derby councillor has called for a ban on e-scooters in the city centre to stop riders causing a nuisance to pedestrians.
Conservative councillor Jamie Mulhall spoke out at a recent meeting calling for the council to “get cracking” to start enforcement as soon as possible as he said problems with scooter riders and troublesome cyclists were rife in areas including St Peter’s Street.
But a leading Labour councillor said in response the council were taking an “educational approach” in response to e-scooter and cyclist problems and, if they escalated further, the authority would need to hold a public consultation before being able to legally issue such enforcement powers.
Councillor Mulhall, who serves Oakwood ward, told councillors: “All you need to do is go out and stand outside McDonald’s to see the scale of the problem.”
His calls come after Labour councillor Shiraz Khan told a council meeting last year he wanted more action taken to protect pedestrians in the city centre. But he was calling for new scooter lanes to be introduced and not necessarily a ban on the vehicles.
Councillor Khan said at a meeting in March last year: “If we could have them (lane markings) – for example on East Street, Albion Street or at The Spot – just something so people can walk along safely without some idiot banging into them. If there were markings and some enforcement then it could be a lot safer to walk.”
According to the Derbyshire police website, e-scooters are classed as motor vehicles under the Road Traffic Act 1988. This means rules that apply to motor vehicles also apply to e-scooters, including the need to have a licence, insurance and tax.
But it is not currently possible to get insurance for privately owned e-scooters, which means it’s illegal to use them on the road or in public spaces unless they are being used on private land. Anyone using a private e-scooter illegally risks having the vehicle seized by police.
In January, it was reported police in Derby had warned parents to “read up about the law” following an increase in children using e-scooters across Derby.
A trial/pilot scheme allowing people to legally use e-scooters on roads in Derby was stopped earlier this year after the council’s chosen hire contractor Superpedestrian closed down its UK operations.