In the run-up to Christmas, we are highlighting the illegal use of electric scooters and urging parents and guardians to think seriously before buying them as presents.



Recently, the force has seen an increase in e-scooters being ridden illegally across Merseyside, particularly in areas of Liverpool city centre and Southport, as well as areas of Wirral, St Helens and Knowsley.

It is against the law to ride an e-scooter anywhere other than on private land, with the express permission of the landowner. If found to be riding one in public, individuals can face having their scooters seized, a fine, or even points on their driving licence.

In addition to this, e-scooters can pose a danger to other members of the public, and we have seen increased reports of them being ridden antisocially including on pavements, in crowded places, and even in the dark. As Christmas approaches, we are encouraging anyone considering purchasing a scooter as a gift to please seriously consider the risks.

Chief Inspector Tony Jones said: “We understand e-scooters may appeal to many people for various reasons, whether it’s to travel to work, to purchase as a gift for someone or to enjoy as a fun activity, but we must stress the fact that to use them in public is illegal and can present a safety risk to yourself and others.

“Recently, we have seen a rise in incidents involving electric scooters, including a minor injury collision with a car and I want to make it clear that these scooters are not toys, and have the potential to cause serious injury or even worse.

“However, there are ways they can be used legally and safely, and earlier this month Liverpool City Council launched an e-scooter programme within the city centre. For a trial period of one year, around 150 scooters have been made available for members of the public to hire and ride during certain times, within the confines of the approved area, which runs from Boundary Street to Sefton Street.

“Only these scooters are legal to ride, with all privately owned e-scooters remaining illegal to ride anywhere other than private land. The scooters used in the trials will be treated as motor vehicles, and you must be over 18 years of age and have at least a provisional driving licence to use one.

“This is a pioneering initiative by the Council, and I would encourage anyone who is thinking about purchasing an e-scooter for whatever reason, to reconsider and look to utilise this service as an alternative, with no risk of having your scooter seized, or receiving a fine or points on your license.

“I want to stress that Merseyside Police will take action if you are found to be using electric scooters illegally. The anti-social and criminal use of them in our town centres and on our roads is reckless and can be incredibly dangerous, posing a significant risk to members of the public as well as the rider.

“We will continue to work to crack down on the illegal use of electric scooters as the festive period approaches, and would encourage anyone who has information on them to please get in touch with us.”

If you have information on the criminal or anti-social use of electric scooters on Merseyside, please contact @MerPolCC, 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555 111. More information can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/public...d-transporters.

Originally Posted by roving-eye

In the run-up to Christmas, we are highlighting the illegal use of electric scooters and urging parents and guardians to think seriously before buying them as presents.



Recently, the force has seen an increase in e-scooters being ridden illegally across Merseyside, particularly in areas of Liverpool city centre and Southport, as well as areas of Wirral, St Helens and Knowsley.

It is against the law to ride an e-scooter anywhere other than on private land, with the express permission of the landowner. If found to be riding one in public, individuals can face having their scooters seized, a fine, or even points on their driving licence.

In addition to this, e-scooters can pose a danger to other members of the public, and we have seen increased reports of them being ridden antisocially including on pavements, in crowded places, and even in the dark. As Christmas approaches, we are encouraging anyone considering purchasing a scooter as a gift to please seriously consider the risks.

Chief Inspector Tony Jones said: “We understand e-scooters may appeal to many people for various reasons, whether it’s to travel to work, to purchase as a gift for someone or to enjoy as a fun activity, but we must stress the fact that to use them in public is illegal and can present a safety risk to yourself and others.

“Recently, we have seen a rise in incidents involving electric scooters, including a minor injury collision with a car and I want to make it clear that these scooters are not toys, and have the potential to cause serious injury or even worse.

“However, there are ways they can be used legally and safely, and earlier this month Liverpool City Council launched an e-scooter programme within the city centre. For a trial period of one year, around 150 scooters have been made available for members of the public to hire and ride during certain times, within the confines of the approved area, which runs from Boundary Street to Sefton Street.

“Only these scooters are legal to ride, with all privately owned e-scooters remaining illegal to ride anywhere other than private land. The scooters used in the trials will be treated as motor vehicles, and you must be over 18 years of age and have at least a provisional driving licence to use one.

“This is a pioneering initiative by the Council, and I would encourage anyone who is thinking about purchasing an e-scooter for whatever reason, to reconsider and look to utilise this service as an alternative, with no risk of having your scooter seized, or receiving a fine or points on your license.

“I want to stress that Merseyside Police will take action if you are found to be using electric scooters illegally. The anti-social and criminal use of them in our town centres and on our roads is reckless and can be incredibly dangerous, posing a significant risk to members of the public as well as the rider.

“We will continue to work to crack down on the illegal use of electric scooters as the festive period approaches, and would encourage anyone who has information on them to please get in touch with us.”

If you have information on the criminal or anti-social use of electric scooters on Merseyside, please contact @MerPolCC, 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555 111. More information can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/public...d-transporters.

Why can't these scooters be used on cycle paths? The public are being encouraged to use clean forms of transport - by banning this form of travelling is to discourage it. In Paris centre, both in pedestrianised areas and on pavements there are a great many of these scooters being used for commuting purposes due to the heavy traffic on the roads.

You sure about that?
France introduced laws banning them from pavements except in designated areas in 2019.

Junior Transport Minister Jean-Baptiste Djebbari said in a statement the new rules would encourage "more responsible use... and restore a sense of tranquillity for pedestrians, in particular the most vulnerable: the elderly, children and handicapped people".

Dog walkers need to take care. I have been overtaken on a footpath by an e-scooter user travelling at speed which would likely have caused him difficulty, had my canine made an impulsive lunge. The dog had not detected the scooter.

Electric powered vehicles' low noise level is a general problem. I suspect it would be a simple matter to develop a remedy to this particular problem.
I wonder though what happens, if an e-scooter rider travelling at whatever top speed applies the brake, sharply?
The one fatality in the UK that I've read about, the rider was in a cycle lane and lost control (reportedly owning to an under-inflated tyre); she was struck by a motor vehicle.

The Government have said that they will introduce legislation to legalise them and electric bikes which whilst common are also 'not legal'

Another serious hazard for pedestrians on pavements.
The French banned them from pavement use except in designated areas and then restricted to walking speed.

Originally Posted by Alikado

The Government have said that they will introduce legislation to legalise them and electric bikes which whilst common are also 'not legal'

Great to hear that these scooters will (hopefully) be 'legalised'...Electric bikes though are perfectly legal, provided they are of the approved type. They are rapidly increasing in popularity, and are a vastly cheaper alternative to an expensive electric car.

N.B. By ordering a spare battery-pack at time of purchase, to carry in a rear pannier - an e-bikes already decent range will be doubled. Dependent on a bikes existing battery capacity and level of assist selected, this would provide an increase in range e.g. from 40 miles to 80 miles.

Originally Posted by Lorquinho

Another serious hazard for pedestrians on pavements.
The French banned them from pavement use except in designated areas and then restricted to walking speed.

They aren't best suited for use on a typical pavement, being as you say a hazard to pedestrians. Although, in open traffic-free areas with plenty space like a town square, that's obviously less of an issue.

Mixed in with motor traffic, they're likely going to get in the way too....Best place for an e-scooter has to be on separate safe tarmac, e.g. on cycle-paths/cycleways. Now if there was a dedicated national network for bikes, there wouldn't be a problem....

Originally Posted by Alikado

The Government have said that they will introduce legislation to legalise them and electric bikes which whilst common are also 'not legal'

Electric bikes are legal in the UK providing their power output does not exceed 250 watts.
https://www.gov.uk/electric-bike-rules

Same could apply to electric scooters whose output can exceed 750 watts which makes them fast and powerful hence the illegality of these

Originally Posted by dexie

Electric bikes are legal in the UK providing their power output does not exceed 250 watts.
https://www.gov.uk/electric-bike-rules

Same could apply to electric scooters whose output can exceed 750 watts which makes them fast and powerful hence the illegality of these

The laws the Police claim to have on the scooters they were claiming on bikes and hoverboards when they first came out, many Ebikes on sale do not conform to the Government rules.

Originally Posted by The PNP

Great to hear that these scooters will (hopefully) be 'legalised'...Electric bikes though are perfectly legal, provided they are of the approved type. They are rapidly increasing in popularity, and are a vastly cheaper alternative to an expensive electric car.

N.B. By ordering a spare battery-pack at time of purchase, to carry in a rear pannier - an e-bikes already decent range will be doubled. Dependent on a bikes existing battery capacity and level of assist selected, this would provide an increase in range e.g. from 40 miles to 80 miles.

The problem with an additional battery is the additional weight, also it is security few if any batteries have a tethering point (like laptops) to use to secure it to the frame etc when leaving the bike parked up.

Electric bikes are quite legal if they are within a certain output, restricted to 15 mph, DONT have a throttle and DO have pedals, in fact if you could somehow add pedals to a scooter as an an ALTERNATIVE drive you could get around this law.
I looked into this when I had a top electric bike, spare batteries that locked to the frame were a few hundred quid and could have easily been carried in one of the panniers ( that un clipped to carry as a bag ) but I didn’t need one as it went forever on one charge. Electric bikes and scooters that don’t have pedals are in the same catagory as motorcycles and require tax and insurance.
I hardly ever used a bike lane or the road for that matter, I found it much safer on the pavement say what you want .

So there are people moaning about these scooters being used on pavements, yet they are also moaning about the introduction of cycle lanes. It can't be both ways. If we are to facilitate safe and efficient modes of transport, as an alternative to cars where one person drags around an empty chair and a sofa, the infrastructure has to be there.
Rather than whinging and moaning about how bad they are, try to adopt more positive support. The more people using bikes and scooters and walking, means those that choose to drive, have freer roads, less queues and faster travel times. Come on, get behind it and support it. Make it good for everyone.

On the same theme, TFL in London have today supported the use of e-scooters on roads. Time the rest of us caught up.

Ha ha hire one of our 150 scooters, do you get the helmet, gloves and hi vis jacket with that?, you can only ride it around a certain area tho.
Hey it’s not legal unless you pay US £12 an hour.

They are £1 to unlock them and 20p per min used, this is a pure nightmare for the owners in a city as to some that means insurance fraud and a spare battery for their own scooters only a pound each with spares . Soon you will see them chained to lamp posts with the front wheel and battery missing .

https://youtu.be/l5N937V8ZOw