- This topic has 44 replies, 25 voices, and was last updated 4 years ago by willard.
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Anyone got an e-scooter?
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WillHFull Member
My wife is thinking of getting one, so she can park the car somewhere and scoot the last bit of her commute – quicker than walking or taking the bus.
Anyone here use one? Any reviews of models to avoid/recommend appreciated. Any tips, features to look for/avoid etc?
The Segway es4 seems to be top of her list at the moment.
juliansFree MemberI dont think they’re legal to use unless on private land?
A mate of mine had one for the same use as you’re thinking of and kept getting bother from the police about it, so gave up with it. Seems a shame really, they could be useful for many people to use for short journeys and are small enough to carry on trains etc without taking up loads of space.
footflapsFull MemberNot legal, but quite a few about. Was nearly taken out by one the other day, he must have been doing about 25mph on the pavement…
nwmlargeFree MemberA couple of fellas at work have these : https://www.dronesdirect.co.uk/p/fbc4013gl/xiaomi-mi-electric-scooter?refsource=ddadwords&mkwid=sRtafXKmm_dc&pcrid=338204743362&product=FBC4013GL&pgrid=68233854432&ptaid=pla-658715338043&gclid=CjwKCAjwiZnnBRBQEiwAcWKfYn4LrP8LHeXHCLsks_zRSl2529dwhKHooPzBHdlmwmz1LxfWSpvaAhoCygoQAvD_BwE
They are nice to ride, you see so many knocking about in central london, no brainer for the Mrs.
make sure she wears a helmet
bikebouyFree MemberPlenty starting to appear at work, one colleague comes in from Holborn to Canary Wharf on his, then charges it up in the underground carpark cleaners cupboard..
I have no problem whatsoever with them, should be encouraged and a grant to make them freely available.
IMO
Ming the MercilessFree MemberWorkmate had one, used to use it to commute to the station or along the sea front to the pub and back. One morning he came in looking like he’d been beaten up, turns out he’d left the pub at closing time, scootered along the sea front and then woke up sprawled on the floor. Between getting to the pub and leaving, the sea had deposited a load of shingle on the concrete path which he couldn’t see in the dark (obvs rather than drunk) which he’d then hit at 25+!
willardFull MemberI have many problems with them, specifically:
- not bothering to signal when cutting across cycle lanes,
- being used without a helmet,
- being two up on them,
- being left everywhere on footways,
- being used on footways,
- being used to go the wrong way down cycle tracks and streets
- merrily going across red lights and turning right on red
And breathe.
Sorry, they get my goat up.
johnnersFree MemberI have no problem whatsoever with them, should be encouraged and a grant to make them freely available.
They seem like a good idea if there’s decent provision of cycleways. I don’t think they’re a good mix with pedestrians, particularly if they’re the 25mph+ (really?) variety mentioned above.
footflapsFull MemberDo they mix well with cyclists though? People who have never ridden a bike suddenly bombing along in narrow cycle lanes faster than bikes with very little/no road sense. Bad enough with scooters / motor bikes in bike lanes (even though they’re not allowed).
avdave2Full MemberI think they are a great idea along with the electric bike, the problem is that we don’t have the infrastructure to use them well and safely. It’s going to take a really determined effort to priorities all forms of transport above the car until we do. You only have to look at the half arsed cycle lane network to realise that’s going to be a big ask though.
Hopefully they will become such a nuisance that there is a realisation that the only way to deal with the problem is to build a road and path network that lets them be used safely. I’ll not hold my breath though.
WillHFull MemberCheers folks. Should’ve said we’re not in the UK, and am up to speed with local laws. There are plenty of scooter schemes in cities around NZ, such as Lime – which I’ve used to get about, and they’re ace.
There are a few different ones on the market though, from Segway and Xiaomi to other random Chinese brands I’ve never heard of. Different power levels, braking systems, solid or pneumatic tyres… Quite a few options.
Agree that there are lots of folks with no road sense who hop on them and are a menace, but equally there are folks who just zip around not getting in anyone’s way, and not being another car on the road.
brakesFree MemberI think they’re brilliant and really want one.
Saw a young lad on one this morning – he must have been doing 30mph – I caught him at the lights and he claimed it would do 60mph! He had a proper motorcycle helmet on so presume he was licensed / insured… didn’t notice any plates though.Anyway there are loads of e-scooter in London (most people have the Xiaomi M365) and they DO mix well with bikes. They are probably better than bikes as they do consistent predictable speeds, unlike bikes which may be going 10mph or 20mph.
shuhockeyFree MemberBoosted aka Boosted Board fame, have just released an electric scooter. Obviously not cheap! But should be good.
Only concern in the UK apart from not been legal is what would happen if you scratched someones car or had an accident. You wouldn’t be covered by any insurance.
willardFull MemberBut that would be the least of their problems. A lot of the time, they just keep going and leave people to get frustrated at the scratches appearing like magic.
Note: I am heavily biased as Stockholm has four hire companies for scooters and a lot of the time people are a nightmare on them. Near misses in town are common and they make cycling a more risky and angry place as they constantly go through red lights, don’t stop for pedestrian crossings and swerve in front of things.
footflapsFull MemberOnly concern in the UK apart from not been legal is what would happen if you scratched someones car or had an accident. You wouldn’t be covered by any insurance.
No different to a cyclist scratching a car, you just ride off 😉
seosamh77Free MemberI think they are a great idea along with the electric bike, the problem is that we don’t have the infrastructure to use them well and safely.
We actually do, it’s called roads. Change all roads to 25mph, allow the limit on these machines to be 25mph, hey presto, instant nationwide inner city infrastructure.
kerleyFree MemberOr just allow them on the roads in same way bikes are allowed on the roads and most bike are not doing 15mph. I think they are a great idea for a commute of a few miles and I would use one over a bike as can put under desk, can use in summer without getting hot, can go on bus with it etc,.
choppersquadFree MemberMy brother in law has the Xiaomi one. It’s really good but I feel really unsafe on it when it’s going flat out. Feels a lot faster than it is and I constantly feel like I’m going to faceplant on it. Well made bit of kit though and surely the sort of thing that should be encouraged to cut emissions etc?
kiloFull Memberwant one.
Saw a young lad on one this morning – he must have been doing 30mph – I caught him at the lights and he claimed it would do 60mph! He had a proper motorcycle helmet on so presume he was licensed / insured… didn’t notice any plates though.Anyway there are loads of e-scooter in London (most people have the Xiaomi M365) and they DO mix well with bikes. They are probably better than bikes as they do consistent predictable speeds, unlike bikes which may be going 10mph or 20
Highly unlikely he will be insured, they don’t have type approval as motorbikes hence no plates, I’ll take a guess on no motorcycle license either. I don’t find them particularly desirable in them bike lanes in London where I commute
muppetWranglerFree Memberhe claimed it would do 60mph!
and his dad owns the copyright to words “No Way jose” and lives off the royalties.
TurnerGuyFree Memberand his dad owns the copyright to words “No Way jose” and lives off the royalties.
Maybe it’s a dualtron ?
More like 50 or 55 though 🙂
muppetWranglerFree MemberMaybe it’s a dualtron ?
More like 50 or 55 though 🙂
Doesn’t matter, he goes to a different school and you wouldn’t know him.
seosamh77Free MemberMaybe it’s a dualtron ?
More like 50 or 55 though 🙂
Guessing the video ran out cause he ran out of battery 2 minutes later? 😆
avdave2Full MemberWe actually do, it’s called roads. Change all roads to 25mph, allow the limit on these machines to be 25mph
We have 20mph limits through most of Brighton, good luck with your plan of enforcing your 25mph limit because it sure isn’t working here. And can you imagine the carnage of these things doing 25mph on our road system and surfaces! One of my clubmates has just come out of the ICU unit and is just managing his first pureed food after needing his face rebuilt after hitting a sunken drain. The roads around here would be like negotiating an obstacle course with the potholes which grow in number every day
benp1Full MemberI see loads commuting around in London. Presume they are for journeys in the 0-5 mile category, don’t see many further out than that (from Central London)
They seem to work great. Most people seem happy on them and are just as reasonable/considerate as other cyclists. Seems like a damn good idea!
I rode my mates kick scooter and that felt like a death trap. Haven’t ridden an e-scooter, would love a go, but little wheels and high centre of gravity must make it interesting. Also wonder if they have enough power to get up a hill ok?
seosamh77Free MemberJust cause your mate is rubbish on a bike doesn’t mean the rest of us are! 😆
the 20mph isn’t enforced cause it’s patchwork at best, and just too much hassle to enforce, you make everything 25 and then things become much simpler.
sharkbaitFree MemberThey’re not that different to a 125 so if they go on the road you should be made to take a CBT and run L plates.
Having recently done my CBT I’m now amazed at the speed of some road bikers protected by nothing more than a bit if lycra and some polystyrene on their head!
johnnersFree MemberAnd can you imagine the carnage of these things doing 25mph on our road system and surfaces!
The surfaces thing is a good point. I’d be OK with one round where I live but I’ve just come back from Harrogate where the town roads are absolutely shocking. I wouldn’t fancy it much on bike, never mind a small-wheeled scooter.
seosamh77Free MemberI wouldn’t fancy it much on bike,
I do find this view a bit mental on an mtb forum! 😆
seosamh77Free Membersharkbait
Member
They’re not that different to a 125Power output not exceeding 11kW
Slight difference in the 750w standard you’d need to bring in for ebikes and scooters at 25mph.. They are nothing like petrol 125s.
avdave2Full MemberI do find this view a bit mental on an mtb forum! 😆
I find I have to watch the surface more on my road bike than my mountain bike for a lot of riding. The problem with the scooters is the wheel size, they need a much better surface than a bike. The point is we need to improve that if we are really going to get significant numbers of people using these new ways of getting around. As for the 20mph limit it’s not because it’s patchy that it’s not enforced it’s because there simply aren’t the resources to enforce it and their isn’t the will to allocate the resources it would need.
seosamh77Free Membertbh I don’t really care about scooters, I think at speed they look sketchy.
mtbs, should be allowed to hit 25 though, road surface doesn’t particularly matter there.
stumpy01Full MemberWeirdly (and somewhat randomly) I watched this review on youtube the other evening.
It’s not terribly in depth, but might give you an idea:johnnersFree MemberI do find this view a bit mental on an mtb forum!
Road bumps are bumpier than off-road bumps, fact!
(Plus there’s the 25mm tyres, no suspension, and the cars, buses and HGVs buzzing you while you try to pick the least worst line)
trail_ratFree MemberJust cause your mate is rubbish on a bike doesn’t mean the rest of us are
Who shit on your cornflakes.there was no need for that comment.
Mistakes happen to all. I currently have a clubmate who is fairly well accomplished who’s in hospital with a broken neck due to an in race incident . He is far from rubbish – wrong place wrong time.
seosamh77Free Memberohnners
Member
I do find this view a bit mental on an mtb forum!Road bumps are bumpier than off-road bumps, fact!
not if you’ve got a motor and 2.4s on they aren’! 😆
seosamh77Free Membertrail_rat
Member
Just cause your mate is rubbish on a bike doesn’t mean the rest of us areWho shit on your cornflakes.there was no need for that comment.
Mistakes happen to all. I currently have a clubmate who is fairly well accomplished who’s in hospital with a broken neck due to an in race incident . He is far from rubbish – wrong place wrong time.
a smilie usually indicates a joke. 😉 chill fella.
Point is that the arguments put forward aren’t sufficient to argue against the point. 25 mph on and ebike isn’t unreasonable.
particularly when roadies cruise about at this speed and much much faster on a regular basis on skinny hard tyres.
Arguing against something with outliers isn’t generally a sound argument.
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