E-scooters 'the bane of our lives'

The efforts by government to impose a ban on scrambler bikes and regulate e-scooter usage was commended at last week's council meeting.

The motion, calling for the council to support the pledge, was tabled by both Cllr Shane P O'Reilly (II) and Cllr Niamh Brady (FG), who specifically called for regulation on e-scooters.

Cllr S.P. O'Reilly said the legislation was necessary to avoid "tragic and needless loss of lives".

He sympathised with the family of Grace Lynch, who died after being hit by a scrambler.

"There's an awful lot of parents in here and it's not something you want at your door," he said.

Some years back his former council colleague Peter McVitty, who sat at the Fine Gael table, called for stricter regulations on e-scooters. Cllr O'Reilly recalled thinking that the scooters were "not much of an issue in Ballyconnell".

"How wrong I was," he admitted in hindsight, adding that they have become the "bane of our lives".

The Mullagh representative has seen users on scooters with "no helmet, no vis-vest, no nothing".

Meanwhile he described the use of scrambler bikes as "outrageous".

He called upon the council to give their full support to the regulations on scramblers and e-scooters and to liaise with An Garda Síochána on their powers to "stop and retrieve" scrambler bikes.

Meanwhile, Cllr Niamh Brady said that e-scooters provide a "convenient and environmentally friendly way" for people to travel short distances.

While she believes they have their "benefits" she said: "We are all aware of the growing concerns around safety, enforcement and shared use of public spaces."

"Uncertainty and inconsistent behaviour creates risks," she continued, describing instances of scooters being used at "inappropriate speeds" on footpaths and "without" adequate visibility.

"Clear national rules on age limits, speed restrictions, safety equipment including helmets and high vis jackets where scooters may be used provide the structure that has been missing."

Cllr Brady said regulation is not about "banning" the scooters, but making their use "safer, clear and more responsible".

She pointed out that roads in Cavan are shared by pedestrians, cyclists, motorists and agricultural traffic and said An Garda Síochána and local authorities can only "act effectively" when "rules are clear and nationally applied".

"Without that clarity, we leave too much room for confusion and risk."

In the "interest of public safety" and "responsible transport" Cllr Brady urged the council to support the Government's promise to regulate e-scooters.

In Belturbet recently, two children were seen by Cllr Brendan Fay (Ind) going up and down the town on e-scooters with "no helmets". One woman, who was a pedestrian, "almost" got hit by one of the scooters. He believes both children were under the age of 16 years.

Cllr Fay claimed that some "don't care about the law" and said that if U16s are using an e-scooter, the guards should "take" the vehicle.

Cllr Damien Brady (SF) also supported the motion. The retired fireman said he was on the scene of four e-scooter accidents during his tenure, one of which a young man sustained a "very serious" head injury.

Cllr Patricia Walsh (FF) also gave her support to the motion, adding how she has seen children "as young as ten" using the scooters.

Cllr TP O'Reilly (FG) agreed, as did Cathaoirleach John Paul Feeley (FF) who said it is "great to see plans move ahead" regarding regulation.

Director of Services Paddy Connaughton said that "safety" must be a priority for both scooter users and pedestrians.