Call for e-scooter trial but concerns persist
An electric vehicle operator has called for e-scooters to be trialled in Jersey after a report commissioned by a parish committee recommended making them legal.
It is illegal to ride an electric scooter in public, but St Helier Roads Committee will consider a report that found e-scooters had "notable benefits" and could be integrated into the transport network.
The report said they could be introduced alongside appropriate safety measures as well as infrastructure and legal changes.
Nick Perchard-Rees, chief of electric car hire company EVie, said a trial would be the best way for the island to make an informed decision. The government said it did not have the funding for a trial.
Mr Perchard-Rees said: "If there's an opportunity to make our roads quieter, safer, make people healthier, surely it's something we should try doing."
He said it was particularly worth considering for St Helier and other parishes close to town and the scooters could have set speed limits and no-go zones to ensure it was a "really safe service".
The firm previously had to withdraw its fleet of electric bicycles because of issues with its insurance and Mr-Perchard Rees said any e-scooter trial would need government support, including assistance with insurance.
Infrastructure minister Constable Andy Jehan said he did not have plans to make e-scooters legal but would include them in any potential consultation on e-transport.
Bernie Manning, who produced the report for the St Helier Roads Committee and is also a member of the committee, said Jersey was "far behind" the UK and other jurisdictions on e-scooter use.
Manning said e-scooters would be useful for people who do not have room to store an e-bike and would get people out of their cars, freeing up space on the roads.
He said, if the roads committee agreed with the report, he would encourage the constable to take it to a parish assembly and then to the States.
Among those with concerns about the introduction of e-scooters is Sarah Highfield, who was injured when she was hit by one in 2023.
She was walking her dog on a pavement in St Saviour, when the scooter collided with her, breaking her leg and fracturing her spine.
"My dog had muscle damage in one leg and is now scared of traffic, especially anything on two wheels," she said.
"He doesn't like walking down that road any more."
She said electric scooters were a great way to get around the island but they needed to be regulated and drivers should be insured.
"I think that safety equipment should be worn by the rider and the speeds should be limited," she said.
Patrick Kozlowski, the director of an electric bike shop in Jersey, said e-bikes were "massive" in Jersey at the moment.
However, he said the island's infrastructure was not the best for e-scooters, particularly with lots of narrow pavements.
He said it might be better if e-scooters were allowed on the roads but "a lot of work needs to be done" to make it possible.
E-scooter use on public roads illegal, police warn
Calls to regulate e-scooters after crashes
States Briefing - E-scooters and E-bikes in Jersey
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Ford Pauses Mustang Mach-E Sales Due to Door Lock Issue
Ford Motor Company F is issuing a global recall for around 317,000 Mustang Mach-E vehicles due to a malfunction that could cause drivers to become locked out or, in some cases, leave the occupant trapped inside the recall affects Mach-E models from the 2021 to 2025 model years, both in the United States and abroad. Ford has instructed its dealers not to sell or deliver any affected vehicles, which are manufactured in Mexico, until a forthcoming software update addresses the issue arises when the car is shut off and the occupants exit using the mechanical interior door handles. The doors might stay locked after closing, posing a danger if a child or pet remains inside. Ford warned that in such situations, a person who exits may be unable to quickly re-enter and assist someone still inside who cannot open the door from within, potentially leading to serious harm, especially in high far, Ford says no injuries or accidents have been linked to the defect. The automaker is working on a software fix, expected to become available in the third quarter. Until then, the stop-sale order remains active. While current owners will be eligible for the update, some may need to visit a dealership rather than receiving it over the air. Once the fix is ready, Ford will contact owners via mail to arrange a service appointment at no January through May this year, Ford sold 19,258 Mach-E units in the United States, up 2.8% from the same period last year. In contrast, sales of the gas-powered Mustang fell 18% to 19,309 company recently increased the Mach-E's price by up to $2,000, partly in response to a 25% tariff on imported vehicles and parts imposed by President Donald Trump. Ford estimates these tariffs will cost the company $2.5 billion in 2025, though it aims to offset $1 billion of that through pricing and cost-cutting strategies. Ford carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) at better-ranked stocks in the auto space are CarGurus, Inc. CARG, Strattec Security Corporation STRT and Michelin MGDDY, each sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank stocks Zacks Consensus Estimate for CARG's 2025 sales and earnings implies year-over-year growth of 4.96% and 25%, respectively. EPS estimates for 2025 and 2026 have improved 30 cents and 44 cents, respectively, in the past 60 Zacks Consensus Estimate for STRT's fiscal 2025 sales and earnings implies year-over-year growth of 3.49% and 8.11%, respectively. EPS estimates for fiscal 2025 and 2026 have improved 73 cents and $1.63, respectively, in the past 60 Zacks Consensus Estimate for MGDDY's 2025 sales and earnings implies year-over-year growth of 1.69% and 37.76%, respectively. EPS estimates for 2025 have improved by a penny in the past 30 days. EPS estimates for 2026 have improved by 3 cents in the past seven days. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Ford Motor Company (F) : Free Stock Analysis Report Strattec Security Corporation (STRT) : Free Stock Analysis Report Michelin (MGDDY) : Free Stock Analysis Report CarGurus, Inc. (CARG) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Florida Condo Owners Hit With Skyrocketing HOA Fees Find Relief as Gov. DeSantis Signs New Bill Into Law
Florida condominium owners will see some relief after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a sweeping condominium reform bill on Wednesday. HB 913 is aimed at helping condo owners battling skyrocketing HOA fees. With the governor's signature, it now becomes law and will take effect on July 1. Following the 2021 collapse of the Champlain Towers South condo in Surfside, which killed 98 people, condos over 30 years of age (and three stories tall) got hit with new safety laws requiring 'milestone' inspections and beefing up reserve funds for repairs and maintenance. HB 913 is meant to help owners with costs without sacrificing safety. 'This bill comes from a lot of listening to owners talk about how they know their building needs to be safe but pleading that the process be fair and workable,' state Sen. Jennifer Bradley (R-Fleming Island), who led the effort to address condo owners' concerns, said during bill debate. 'With each milestone inspection, our condos are becoming safer, but financial impacts are reverberating.' In April, both chambers of the Florida Legislature voted unanimously to pass House Bill 913, addressing endless complaints over the rising fees for condominium owners, despite pushback from DeSantis. Essentially, the bill would aid condominium associations in setting up credit lines and investing funds that would contribute to necessary building repairs instead of immediately looking to owners for the money. 'You had people that were going to be forced out of their condos potentially because of legislation that had come down the pipe,' DeSantis said during a May 20 appearance in Tampa, referencing recent safety laws, as reported by NBC Miami. The bill will help some condominium associations in certain situations use special assessments, lines of credit, or loans to fund their reserves, and to pool reserve accounts—hopefully, taking the pressure off of condo owners who were suddenly faced with exorbitant fees. The 191-page bill had additional provisions: Prohibits a person whose community association manager license is revoked from having an indirect or direct ownership interest in, or being an employee, a partner, an officer, a director, or a trustee of, a community association management firm for a specified time frame. Requires a licensee to create and maintain an online licensure account with the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. Requires a community association manager to identify on his or her online licensure account certain information. Requires a licensee to provide specific information on his or her online licensure account. Requires that such information be updated within a specified time frame. Requires a community association management firm to identify on its online licensure account the community association managers it employs to provide community association management services. The bill is aimed at providing transparency and accountability to avoid another Surfside condo collapse. Owners hope to see relief fast. The sharp rise in condo fees has had an effect on older condos for sale. Homeowners are finding themselves saddled with rising HOAs, in addition to being unable to sell their condo. 'Prospective buyers are more cautious now, often demanding structural inspection reports before making a purchase,' , director of new development sales at Compass Development Marketing Group, told 'This caution has led buyers to shift their interest into newer buildings since older buildings' costs are higher. Newer condo products are selling at higher prices.' New Homes Are Flying Off the Shelves in These 4 Metros—Defying the National Trend of Sluggish Sales Mapped: States Most at Risk for Hurricane Damage 7 Bedrooms Is the New 4 for Luxury Living in New England Suburbs
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
3 Connecticut State Police cruisers struck in 2-day span
CONNECTICUT (WTNH) — State police say three of their troopers' cruisers were struck while responding to calls in the span of two days. They're reminding drivers to stay alert and give plenty of space to emergency responders. Aka, 'slow down and move over.' State trooper has minor injuries after cruiser was hit in Meriden Two incidents happened on Saturday, June 14. In Danbury, a cruiser was struck head-on while trying to stop a wrong-way driver on Route 7 South. On the same day in Meriden, state police said a cruiser was rear-ended while the trooper was doing motor vehicle enforcement on Interstate 91 North. State trooper injured after cruiser struck by vehicle on I-84 in Waterbury And in Waterbury the next day, a cruiser was side-swiped while the trooper investigated a separate crash on Interstate 84 West. All the troopers involved sustained minor injuries, according to state police. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
