'E-scooters laws need to be clamped down on' say local residents

Riding an e-scooter is currently illegal in public according to UK law: they are only legal if they are part of a hire scheme or if they are ridden on private property.

But that hasn’t stopped the spike in the number of e-scooters whizzing round the town often in pedestrian areas and roads, which has led to safety concerns.

Additionally, there have been long-running complaints about dirt bikes being used in Reading parks, including Prospect Park and the Mapledurham playing fields.

The issues were discussed by Reading councillors as part of a motion calling on the council to work more closely with Thames Valley Police to tackle speeding, reckless and dangerous driving, and the unnecessary risk to road users and pedestrians alike – including the illegal use of off-road bikes and e-scooters.

READ MORE: ‘We need action over road safety’ after recent high-profile fatal crashes in Reading

The motion involved the request for the council’s chief executive writing to Thames Valley Police chief superintendent for Berkshire Sarah Grahame to undertake a borough-wide initiative to reduce the illegal use of e-scooters and off-road bikes.

The motion was introduced by councillor Raj Singh (Conservative, Kentwood) but it was substantially adjusted in an amendment by the ruling Labour Party. Conservative councillors accused Labour members of politicising the issue.

Raj Singh, Conservative councillor for Kentwood ward. Credit: Reading West Conservatives

During the debate, cllr Isobel Ballsdon (Conservative, Caversham Heights) said she had heard of two concerning recent incidents.

In one case, an e-scooter “shot out of nowhere” at the pedestrian crossing in Caversham Road, forcing a driver to do an emergency stop.

In the other, a cyclist “whizzed past” an elderly resident in Broad Street, nearly hitting her.

READ MORE: Reading call for help to tackle anti-social behaviour such as driving motorbikes in parks

Cllr Ballsdon said: “The council needs to do better. This original motion would have helped move things forward, it would have improved the lives of our residents. The political posturing does [nothing].

“I’d like to be able to go back to my residents and say ‘I’ve been to a council meeting, we’ve made a difference’.”

Meanwhile, Jason Brock (Labour, Southcote) the leader of the council, called the accusation that Labour members politicised the issue ‘inappropriate’.

Ultimately, an amended motion introduced by Tony Page (Labour, Abbey) the lead councillor for transport, was passed.

The amended Anti-Social Driving and Road Safety Motion to Reading Borough Council, which was passed. Credit: Reading Borough Council

That motion instructs the council’s chief executive to write to the Department for Transport asking for clear legislation on e-scooter use. No mention was made of off-road bikes in parks in the motion.

In a vote all Labour, Liberal Democrat and most Green councillors voted for cllr Page’s motion, with Conservatives voting against it and cllr Kathryn McCann (Green, Redlands) abstaining.

It is understood the Liberal Democrats and Greens would have supported cllr Singh’s unamended motion as well if it came to a vote.