Calls for 'urgent review' of e-scooter safety in Leeds
It's illegal to use them in public in the UK
There are calls for an urgent safety review as more and more e-scooters are being spotted on the roads and pavements in Leeds.
It's only legal to use the vehicles on private land in the UK but we've found there's been a rise in them appearing in public spaces across our city.
There have been concerns over their safety since TV presenter Emily Hartridge died in an e-scooter crash in London a month ago today.
On Facebook Dave Ryalls, from Leeds, told us: "I see them often in the city centre roads, bike lanes and footpaths on my daily commute"
Asha France said: "I've seen a couple on pavement in the area, total nuisance if you ask me."
Helen Cavanagh had a close call with one in the city centre: "One nearly run me over outside Merrion Centre in Leeds, I thought he was going way to quick in a public place. Luckily I was able to move but someone less agile might have been hit."
West Yorkshire road safety charity Brake are calling on the government to carry out a review into their safety.
Joshua Harris says it must be a priority:
"We are seeing a proliferation on them being used, especially in cities. What we want to see is an urgent review of the safety implications of using them ahead of any regulation allowing them on our roads.
"With e-scooters, we do see in the future if they are regulated there can be benefits from them. Obviously with cities getting much more congested, the population increasing, alternatives to the car are important.
"We need more research into the safety on the roads. And if they are permitted to be used there would have to safeguards in place around their use. One of the key things is speed limits."
Not everyone thinks they're dangerous though, with some arguing they're a good environmentally friendly way to get around.
Jaimes Moran uses an e-skateboard in Leeds and thinks e-scooters should be legalised:
"When electric bikes first started emerging, it took them ten years to be taken seriously. There were loads of concerns over their safety as well. You think about e-bikes, how it has opened up so much to people who couldn't cycle normally.
"The ones below 15 mph are perfectly safe on footpaths because they do average out on this speed. They lose a lot on that on hills and bumps. Legally speaking the UK is always behind. Many other countries legalised e-bikes and electric scooters long before we have.
"Most people have never actually seen these electric scooters in person. It's a new technology that people get scared of. There so much potential and it's a shame that gets overshadowed by the bad news scare stories."
The government have said they'll look into regulation around new technologies like e-scooters.
A spokesperson for Leeds City Council said:
“The current law on the use of e-scooters states it is illegal to ride them on public roads and pavements, or in cycle lanes, so we do not endorse their use at this moment in time. It is legal to use them on private land or property
“If people are using them on private property, we would advise them to be aware of others around them, and to ride them with control and at an appropriate speed. Parents/carers should use their own judgement around use of helmets for children.
“We continue to encourage the use of other sustainable methods of travel, including walking and cycling, and the use of public transport in order to reduce congestion and improve air quality."