E-scooter: easy for anyone who uses, but still illegal in Ireland

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A man rides a shared electric scooter in Santa Monica, California, on July 13, 2018. - Cities across the U.S. are grappling with the growing trend of electric scooters which users can unlock with a smartphone app. Scooter startups including Bird and Lime allow riders to park them anywhere that doesn't block pedestrian walkways but residents in some cities, including Los Angeles, say they often litter sidewalks and can pose a danger to pedestrians. (Photo by Robyn Beck / AFP) (Photo credit should read ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images)

Cars, buses, trains, trucks and bicycles are means of transportation that make up the traffic of big cities. The streets of Dublin have a new type of transport: electric scooters. The e-scooters, as they are already called, have more than 2 million units sold in the US and Europe. The vehicle is considered sustainable and also it is a good alternative for people who travel small distances. Today, more than 2,000 electric scooters are now traveling regularly on Dublin city roads, according to the Road Safety Authority (RSA).

Research by one of the pioneering American companies in the manufacture of e-scooters revealed that almost 40 percent of car trips in cities are less than 5 km and thus potentially sustainable for an alternative form of transportation. In addition, e-scooters are eco-friendly, cheap and harder to steal. This is because the scooters are small and can be charged by the user.

But, there is a problem. Traffic law in Ireland is more than 50 years old and, therefore, this type of transport does not even exist in it. This makes the use of e-scooters illegal in the country. What is known is that the authorities of the Road Safety Authority are already seeking to regulate the use of electric scooters. Electric scooters are classified as motor vehicles and are subject to taxes, driving licenses and insurance. Therefore,anyone picking up using an e-scooter in a public place can be fined, receive penalty points or have their “vehicle” seized by police officers.

Types of e-scooters

voro motors emove cruiser 1The market has numerous options in which the price varies from € 300 to € 1500. Generally, the vehicles have a range of 15 to 30 kilometers with full battery. This depends on the weight of the user. Each device can support up to 120 kg in weight.

Legal alternative

By having a favorable topography, Dublin becomes a paradise for those who like to use eco-friendly types of transportation to either visit new places or go to work. Anyone that knows the city knows that it is very common to share bicycles, Dublin Bikes. The system operates in several stations spread over areas such as D 1, D 2, D 4, D 7 and D 8. The minimum annual fee for the use of bicycles is € 20. You can use the vehicle for thirty minutes. Every half hour above that you will be charged a fee of € 0.50.

By Rodrigo Valadares

Rodrigo Valadares
Rodrigo Valadares

I am Rodrigo from Brazil. I have worked as a journalist there since 1999, always as a text editor and content on TV. I am 43 years old and now I am living in Dublin. I have discovered how fascinating it is to know and live others cultures since I arrived here.

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