Latest news with #eScooters
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Aussie council's $50,000 move prompts worried dad to scour roads for weeks
An Aussie dad has spent the last few weeks scouring every roadside in his suburb in dreaded anticipation of a new arrival — e-scooters. Matthew Zammit is fighting to keep the controversial mode of transportation off the streets of north Melbourne after the Darebin City Council revealed a $50,000 trial of share hire e-scooters and e-bikes would kick off in June. The decision caused waves when it was announced late last year, just a week after the City of Melbourne voted to ditch the electronic two-wheelers following a string of complaints. At the time, Darebin's then-mayor Susanne Newton told the ABC that despite safety concerns, she believed the benefits of the trial would outweigh the risks, and that she was 'pretty comfortable' with the technology hire companies have in place. However, Zammit disagrees, arguing residents will undoubtedly 'get hurt'. 'You hit a pothole on [an e-scooter] and all the weight is up the back, so it becomes like a lever and just catapults you forward, headfirst into whatever's in front of you,' he told 9News. Since their introduction in Australia in 2018, e-scooters have become a hotly-contested subject due to soaring rates of serious injuries and fatal collisions, including a Perth dad who was recently hit by one as he walked to pick up dinner. He died several days later, on June 3, in hospital. From January, 2020 to April this year, there have been 30 fatalities nationwide, with more than 10 of them being children. Staggering research from the University of Melbourne revealed that one in three e-scooter deaths in the last five years have been children, prompting a plea to parents not to buy the electric scooters for their kids. 'They end up with lots of soft tissue and facial fractures, sometimes half or all of their teeth missing, and unfortunately sometimes really significant head injuries,' Dr Sarah Whitelaw from the Royal Melbourne Hospital said. Earlier this week, Yahoo News published heart-stopping dashcam footage of a Queensland child's very close call after she suddenly swerved in front of a car while riding an e-scooter without a helmet. Driver Emma Ogilvie said the incident left her feeling 'so shaken'. 'She's just lucky I pay attention when I drive and I saw her. It could've been a lot worse, and although it would't have been my fault, I couldn't live with myself if anything else happened,' she told Yahoo. Zammit, a survivor of road trauma, has created a petition to urge Darebin City Council to reverse what he says is an 'expensive and harmful' decision. 'As a result of this road trauma I live with significant disabilities, including an acquired brain injury,' he wrote on the website. 'It has changed the course of my life, and I am startled by the level of brain injury being inflicted on others due to shared e-scooters.' Speaking to 9News, Zammit said the last thing he wants is to see someone else be severely injured or killed while riding an e-scooter on his local streets. 'You see statistics of people seriously injured on roads and you can very easily just see a number, but each one of those serious injuries is a long journey of recovery,' he said. 'And in many cases, you're not going back to what you were. You're not getting back what you had... your life has changed forever.' 🚘 Dashcam captures driver's 'heart attack' e-scooter moment in front of car 🧒 Urgent plea to Aussie parents over deadly e-scooter trend 👀 Little-known road rule could see you lose your licence Darebin's new mayor Kristin Olaris has insisted the council is 'putting safety and accessibility at the centre' of its impending trial, according to 9News. Peter McLean, CEO of Bicycle NSW, told Yahoo there are multiple factors that contribute to e-scooter and e-bike safety, including government regulations, police enforcement and parental responsibility. 'E-scooter sales have been significantly increasing over time and tens of thousands of them are being sold each and every year across Australia,' he said. 'They do provide a significant improvement in autonomous transport and transportation, which is very, very positive. However, we do have to be very, very careful how we use them. 'If you're not riding them correctly then they are extremely dangerous and will undoubtedly injure the user and of course, other road users as well.' Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Aussie council's $50,000 move prompts worried dad to scour roadsides for weeks
An Aussie dad has spent the last few weeks scouring every roadside in his suburb in dreaded anticipation of a new arrival — e-scooters. Matthew Zammit is fighting to keep the controversial mode of transportation off the streets of north Melbourne after the Darebin City Council revealed a $50,000 trial of share hire e-scooters and e-bikes would kick off in June. The decision caused waves when it was announced late last year, just a week after the City of Melbourne voted to ditch the electronic two-wheelers following a string of complaints. At the time, Darebin's then-mayor Susanne Newton told the ABC that despite safety concerns, she believed the benefits of the trial would outweigh the risks, and that she was 'pretty comfortable' with the technology hire companies have in place. However, Zammit disagrees, arguing residents will undoubtedly 'get hurt'. 'You hit a pothole on [an e-scooter] and all the weight is up the back, so it becomes like a lever and just catapults you forward, headfirst into whatever's in front of you,' he told 9News. Since their introduction in Australia in 2018, e-scooters have become a hotly-contested subject due to soaring rates of serious injuries and fatal collisions, including a Perth dad who was recently hit by one as he walked to pick up dinner. He died several days later, on June 3, in hospital. From January, 2020 to April this year, there have been 30 fatalities nationwide, with more than 10 of them being children. Staggering research from the University of Melbourne revealed that one in three e-scooter deaths in the last five years have been children, prompting a plea to parents not to buy the electric scooters for their kids. 'They end up with lots of soft tissue and facial fractures, sometimes half or all of their teeth missing, and unfortunately sometimes really significant head injuries,' Dr Sarah Whitelaw from the Royal Melbourne Hospital said. Earlier this week, Yahoo News published heart-stopping dashcam footage of a Queensland child's very close call after she suddenly swerved in front of a car while riding an e-scooter without a helmet. Driver Emma Ogilvie said the incident left her feeling 'so shaken'. 'She's just lucky I pay attention when I drive and I saw her. It could've been a lot worse, and although it would't have been my fault, I couldn't live with myself if anything else happened,' she told Yahoo. Zammit, a survivor of road trauma, has created a petition to urge Darebin City Council to reverse what he says is an 'expensive and harmful' decision. 'As a result of this road trauma I live with significant disabilities, including an acquired brain injury,' he wrote on the website. 'It has changed the course of my life, and I am startled by the level of brain injury being inflicted on others due to shared e-scooters.' Speaking to 9News, Zammit said the last thing he wants is to see someone else be severely injured or killed while riding an e-scooter on his local streets. 'You see statistics of people seriously injured on roads and you can very easily just see a number, but each one of those serious injuries is a long journey of recovery,' he said. 'And in many cases, you're not going back to what you were. You're not getting back what you had... your life has changed forever.' 🚘 Dashcam captures driver's 'heart attack' e-scooter moment in front of car 🧒 Urgent plea to Aussie parents over deadly e-scooter trend 👀 Little-known road rule could see you lose your licence Darebin's new mayor Kristin Olaris has insisted the council is 'putting safety and accessibility at the centre' of its impending trial, according to 9News. Peter McLean, CEO of Bicycle NSW, told Yahoo there are multiple factors that contribute to e-scooter and e-bike safety, including government regulations, police enforcement and parental responsibility. 'E-scooter sales have been significantly increasing over time and tens of thousands of them are being sold each and every year across Australia,' he said. 'They do provide a significant improvement in autonomous transport and transportation, which is very, very positive. However, we do have to be very, very careful how we use them. 'If you're not riding them correctly then they are extremely dangerous and will undoubtedly injure the user and of course, other road users as well.' Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
News.com.au
7 days ago
- Politics
- News.com.au
WA announces investigation into electric bikes and scooters
The WA government will launch a statewide investigation into the safety of electric bikes and scooters in response to growing community concern. The government will set up a bipartisan Parliamentary Committee to find ways to strengthen the safety and regulation of the 'e-rideables'. The state has had four fatalities involving e-rideables since the start of the year, including that of Perth dad Thahn Phan, who was allegedly hit by a British tourist last week on a rented e-scooter. Following that incident the state government said that it needed to do more. 'We have very strict regulations about the speed of e-scooters,' said Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti. 'But it's obvious we need to do more on compliance.' she said. The committee is set to investigate the expansion of penalties, how the vehicles are rented, how they are used in congested areas and how technology like speed limiting can be used to make them safer. Announcing the new committee, Police and Road Safety Minister Reece Whitby said the government wanted to do 'as much as possible' to keep everyone safe from e-rideables. 'I've become increasingly concerned about safety issues around e-rideables and e-scooters and I'm particularly concerned about the safety and the vulnerability of pedestrians as well as those people who ride these devices,' Mr Whitby said. 'And I think there's a growing community concern also.' Other measures to be considered by the committee are night-time curfews and the use of e-bikes and e-scooters in entertainment districts. Asked by reporters on Saturday morning, Mr Whitby said a ban of the vehicles on footpaths would 'absolutely' be considered. Mr Whitby said it was important that the state had a bipartisan approach to the reforms, acknowledging that he wanted the community to work together. The committee will deliver its report in September and Mr Whitby said in the meantime the police would need to maintain 'vigilance' in their enforcement. E-bikes have come under fire nationally in recent months as fatalities continue to mount.
CBS News
11-06-2025
- CBS News
Will there be a summer surge of kids illegally riding e-bikes and e-scooters in Folsom?
FOLSOM — School is out in Folsom, and so is the surge of kids riding their e-bikes and e-scooters sometimes dangerously and illegally. It has led to frustrations among people living in Folsom. "They could cause an issue or collision with a person on the road if a person driving isn't paying attention," Folsom resident Jessica Gomez said. CBS13 caught some kids on camera doubling up on a single scooter through busy intersections. A viewer also sent us a photo of a young girl on an e-scooter wearing no helmet while stopped at a red light in the left-hand turn lane behind a car. "Last week of school, I saw third graders riding e-scooters to school," said Folsom Mayor Sarah Aquino. Aquino is concerned there will be an uptick with it being summer and said parents need to know the laws, such as anyone under 18 must wear a helmet. "We want kids outside. We want kids having fun. We want them to engage in physical activity. We just want to make sure they are using these all age appropriate," Aquino said. The mayor said many may be surprised to learn you need to be 16 or older to ride e-scooters. "There have been some close calls, some near-misses with kids on e-scooters and e-bikes and some cars," Aquino said. Just last week, a 13-year-old in South Lake Tahoe tragically died when she was hit by a car while riding her e-bike. No one wants the same thing to happen in Folsom. "I do worry about those without any helmets or anything and the speeds they go up and down those hills," said Brett Bower, who lives in Folsom. People CBS13 spoke with are not calling for an outright ban on these electric bikes and scooters, but rather more enforcement to prevent something bad from happening. "I think adults need to learn how to allow kids to have the latitude and opportunity to experience being a youngster," said Mike Patrick, who lives in Folsom. "Soon enough, they will be adults and everything will be serious." The Folsom Police Department said it has done multiple education campaigns and is ticketing illegal riders. It gave CBS13 this statement: "Our enforcement has been consistent but sometimes catching the riders is difficult. We believe we are making an impact on illegal riders, but we are still receiving complaints from community members concerned about some of the riding they see." The City of Folsom also shared these few key rules to help riders stay safe: All riders Helmets are recommended for everyone and required for riders under 18. E-motorcycle riders must wear a Department of Transportation (DOT) approved helmet, regardless of age. E-scooters Riders must be 16 or older, have a valid California driver's license or instructional permit, and only ride solo. Stay off the sidewalks, and follow a speed limit of 15 mph. E-bikes Class 1 and 2 e-bikes are not age-restricted. However, speed must be kept under 15 mph on trails and streets with 25 mph or lower limits. Class 3 riders must be 16 or older. E-motorcycles Anything without pedals and that is battery-powered and capable of going faster than 30 mph is considered an e-motorcycle. Riders need a California Driver's License with M1 or M2 endorsement. E-Motorcycles need to be registered with the DMV and have a license plate to be ridden on the street. No trails, bike lanes, or sidewalks. You can find more safety information on the City of Folsom's website.
Irish Times
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
Nine e-scooters seized as gardaí use new safety technology in Dublin
Gardaí have begun trialling new safety devices that can measure the speed of e-scooters and e-bikes. The portable devices, called mobile dynamometers, can determine the maximum speed that the vehicles are capable of. New laws governing the use of e-scooters were introduced in May 2024 and include limiting their maximum speed to 20km/h. They must also meet lighting and braking standards. The use of such vehicles by those under the age of 16 was also banned. READ MORE Any e-scooters that do not comply with these requirements can be seized by gardaí and a fixed charge notice can be issued to the user. In a post on X, the Garda said checks were carried out using the new dynamometer technology in Dublin on Thursday. Nine e-scooters were seized for a range of offences, including speeding and exceeding the maximum rated power output. [ E-scooters perceived as most dangerous form of transport in Ireland, report finds Opens in new window ] Fine Gael councillor for Dublin's north inner city Ray McAdam welcomed the new technology. 'We see e-scooters and similar machines travelling at speeds much greater than 20km/h across our city streets'. 'Those that ride those machines, I believe, are at risk because of the speeds they travel at, but they're also a huge risk to other road users and other pedestrians in the city centre'. Janet Horner, a Green Party councillor in the same district, said that while the speed enforcement is generally positive, 'it will also exasperate some road safety campaigners who have been calling for more enforcement on cars and other vehicles in the city. 'There is widespread and blatant flouting of the current speed limits around the city by all vehicles and we urgently need more enforcement mechanisms, including speed cameras, red light cameras and more visible traffic policing.'
