Meath cllrs want to see legislation around use of e-scooters on public roads

An understanding that new laws governing the speed and registration of e-scooters, electric bikes and bicycles will be introduced soon by the Government was relayed to Meath County Council by a Fianna Fail councillor last week.

Navan Cllr Padraig Fitzsimons tabled a motion at a council meeting calling on the council to write to the Minister for Transport calling for new legislation on the use of these vehicles on the public roads. He said he was referring to speed control, licensing, lights, use of high visibility and helmets, and penalties for speeding on footpaths.

He said that electric books and scooters capable of travelling over 25kph would come under legislation that would ensure they were taxed and insured. He said that vehicles capable of travelling under that speed would not be legislated for and he thought this should be looked at again. He said he had a report of one electric scooter coming down a path at 20kph and knocking down a woman.

The councillor said he didn’t want to see too much of the “nanny state” but a vehicle travelling down a road or a footpath at 25kph was “a weapon”. The councillors agreed with his notice of motion.