Justification for allowing e-scooters on Aussie footpaths is complete nonsense.

by Gareth E on 08/09/2022   

The justification for allowing e-scooters on Aussie footpaths is nonsense. The danger was highlighted recently by a graphic video which appeared on social media of a woman being skittled by one on a Perth footpath after she walked out of a shop.

Supporters excuse this menace by advancing a stock argument which was initially raised to justify letting cyclists use footpaths. It states that 'pedestrians must always be aware of their surroundings'. Therefore if they get crashed into or bowled over by a bicycle or an e-scooter, they share the blame. That's rubbish!

Awareness always comes with limitations. The capacity for it varies widely between individuals. That applies not just to pedestrians but also to riders, some of whom are gawking at smartphones while they zoom along.

This argument hijacks a fair principle and puts it to unfair use. Yes, people must always be aware of potential dangers in their immediate environment. However, that doesn't justify self-interested people adding in considerable extra risk to others just to please themselves.

What the argument really states is this:-

"if the pregnant mum with a toddler on one hand and shopping in the other, or the bent over senior citizen who hobbles in a wavy line and occasionally stumbles to one side, can't immediately upskill their awareness and mobility to the point where they can notice any and all fast-moving vehicles coming toward them and keep out of the way, then they no longer belong on footpaths".

So, either don't use them or wear the risk. Pedestrian walkways therefore become vehicle paths.

The need for awareness of surroundings applies in public places, in the workplace, in the home and even to some degree while we are asleep. In most settings, relaxed awareness is sufficient. We deliberately work to create that situation wherever possible because heightened awareness is stressful.

If riders can't park them better than this, how can they be responsible enough to be weaving among pedestrians?"

The nature of footpaths, where they are and how we use them can't allow for fast-moving vehicles. They are places where we can walk quickly or amble, stop and chat, bob down, bend over or carry a heavy load. We can suddenly stop and window-shop or walk into and out of stores, sometimes hurrying. We need to be able to push a pram, let kids dart here and there or let frail elderly people walk slowly and sometimes a bit erratically. They certainly won't have a great awareness of their surroundings. All of these can be done with little risk of people colliding with each other. It happens occasionally, but rarely with injury except to pride.

Adding in bicycles and e-scooters suddenly makes those activities dangerous. Instead of relaxing and enjoying life on a footpath, it becomes necessary to watch around yourself diligently like someone crossing a road through significant traffic.

This will only get worse. Increasing numbers of people are buying these scooters and while it's illegal to ride unauthorised ones on footpaths, their use is rife. Walking along Adelaide's coastal path I have seen many of them which are larger than the hire versions and go much faster.

Policing this will become difficult if not impossible. There'll be increasing collisions with pedestrians and very likely between the vehicles themselves. A head-on crash between scooters could have an ugly outcome. Hardly any riders use a bell. Few of them wear helmets, but in future pedestrians might need to.