The growing prevalence of E scooters being used footpaths in towns across Co Clare is a major concern and must spark greater enforcement of the law .
That’s according to Aontú’s Clare Rep , June Dillon who says she, together with other safety advocates in the county are increasingly concerned about the rise of E scooters on footpaths saying they “are an absolute hazard to pedestrians who are really nervous of them ,fearing they will come to harm”.
She says
“This is becoming a real problem, and the law is being flouted with abandon .Scooters are not permitted for use on public footpaths or in areas designated for pedestrians, and it is illegal to supply them to anyone under the age of 16. Recent legislation has granted the Gardai new powers to seize e-scooters and take action against those operating them in inappropriate places
Yet I see people using them on footpaths virtually every day when I’m in Ennis. People are whizzing about at considerable speed which is very very dangerous.
It’s terrifying for elderly people, and those who have any infirmity, but to be honest I’ve had manys’ the close shave with these myself .
I was coming out of a shop in Ennis, and I was almost sent flying by an e scooter. I was shocked and really shaken as had the person hit me, I would have been badly injured, of that there is no doubt.
It is so incredibly inconsiderate to use these vehicles on footpaths
Not only are those doing so a danger to other people, they are a danger to themselves as more often than not they are not wearing helmets and if they hit a bump in the road they will come off the vehicle and do themselves an injury
Footpaths and pedestrian pathways are for pedestrians not for speeding E scooters There has to be stricter enforcement of the law and I will be making contact with our local a Gardai to ensure that more action is taken to stamp this out. The safety of our communities must come first” .
