An audit of presentations to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital in 2021 showed about 1.5 patients arriving with e-scooter-related injuries every day. Twenty-five per cent involved alcohol, 71 per cent were male and 10 per cent were not wearing a helmet.
Personally, I would hate to see e-scooters banned on the back of the minority that use them irresponsibly. I think they’re fun, practical and a good way to get around the city.
But I do think we could make them safer for users and pedestrians. Brisbane could follow France and Germany’s lead and lower the overall speed limit to 20 km/h. First-time users should have to watch a demonstration video and complete safety modules before riding.
Maybe they should be banned in pedestrian-heavy areas of the CBD or fitted with technology to prevent illegal riding and ensure helmets are actually being worn.
Personally, I’d like to see a bigger emphasis on the ebike hires than escooters. They’re just as fun, potentially much faster (equal uphill, faster downhill, and potentially faster on the flat if you’ve got good legs), and most importantly: much, much safer for their riders.
Do what with them? There’s honestly not much I’d like to do to them in terms of actual regulation.
Though enforcement of existing regulations could certainly be better. And road design & urban planning could be a lot better to encourage the use of alternative means of transportation.
Personally, I’d like to see a bigger emphasis on the ebike hires than escooters. They’re just as fun, potentially much faster (equal uphill, faster downhill, and potentially faster on the flat if you’ve got good legs), and most importantly: much, much safer for their riders.
Now do cars.
Do what with them? There’s honestly not much I’d like to do to them in terms of actual regulation.
Though enforcement of existing regulations could certainly be better. And road design & urban planning could be a lot better to encourage the use of alternative means of transportation.