I’ve completely lost track of how many false dawns electric scooters have had in Ireland. Now, with the country opening up once again, to get around people have been forced back onto public transport despite the massive potential offered by electric scooters. In March we got a sneak peek at what the new micromobility laws would be, but still, electric scooter riders are running the gauntlet. Private owners and shared scooter operators have grown tired of waiting and today have written to Eamon Ryan asking things scoot along a little faster.
The Long Scooter Delay
Free Now, formerly Hailo and a plethora of other names, were among a number of e-scooter and e-bike operators, potential operators and mobility platforms calling on current Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan, to “see that the proposed legislation for e-scooters receives its full consideration and passage over the coming weeks”.
It’s clear that right now is an excellent opportunity to stop kicking the can down the road as patience wears thin amongst the operators asking the Government to “commit to a timeline to implement this important legislation”. In the letter, included below, which is they also state that they “believe that it is vital that legislation is prioritised and finalised as soon as possible to allow all relevant processes to take place to ensure we have scooters deployed in the late summer / early autumn months”.
E-scooter Operators’ Letter To Eamon Ryan
We are writing to you as a group of e-scooter and e-bike operators, potential operators and mobility platforms. We are all hugely supportive of the work being undertaken by the Government to legislate for e-scooters as part of the Road Traffic (Miscellaneous) Bill.
We were delighted to see that it is contained in the Summer Legislative Programme. Our ask is to ensure that the Bill receives its full consideration and passage over the coming weeks in order to allow passengers to enjoy the benefits of e-scooters in the Summer and Autumn. Multi-modality will be a hugely important element of our re-opening, ensuring that people have a range of transport options available to them. We would ask the government to commit to a timeline to implement this important legislation.
E-scooters have been found to be a safe and enjoyable transport mode. Many of the signatories to this letter have experience in other countries and understand the need to ensure that safety of passengers and other road users must be paramount. We believe that it is vital that legislation is prioritised and finalised as soon as possible to allow all relevant processes to take place to ensure we have scooters deployed in the late summer / early autumn months.
As the pandemic draws to a close we are keen to continue to support a safe re-opening. We are eager to work with government, regulators and other stakeholders to ensure that scooters are a safe, reliable and enjoyable option for passengers.
