Kildare residents 'have electric scooters coming at them'

Kildare County Council is awaiting legislation to regulate the use of electric scooters.

That was the message for Newbridge councillor Noel Heavey, who asked that KCC develop a policy covering the use of electric scooters and electric bicycles.

“People are facing unregulated scooters coming at them” particularly since the Covid-19 pandemic ended and they returned outdoors, he told a KCC meeting.

The Personal Powered Transporters (PPTs) and the Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2021, will also clarify the legal position for a range of other light electric vehicles like  e-bikes, e-mopeds and e-cargo bikes. 

It will also allow for the regulation of e-scooters as PPTs. Only e-scooters that comply

with the regulations will be legal for use on public roads, according to KCC official Celina Barrett.

It will define e-bikes and e-cargo bikes that comply with the relevant EU type approval legislation, as bicycles and confirm bicycle-based e-mopeds and cargo e-mopeds that exceed the e-bike type approval limits, as mechanically propelled vehicles.

Currently, there are no plans to legalise the use of other vehicle types that might be considered PPTs, including hoverboards, unicycles, one wheels, segways and powered skateboards.

Ms Barrett indicated that  the regulations will take legal effect towards the end of summer/early autumn 2023. 

But Cllr Bill Clear commented that it is likely to be early next year before the legislation is enacted.

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