NCBI, Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind and the Irish Wheelchair Association
are urging Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan to take action with e-scooter
legislation in order to protect pedestrians with access needs before it is
too late.
Yesterday the Minister unveiled his strategy for electric charging vehicle
infrastructure which will include the development of new mobility hubs in
cities, where people can charge electric cars, bikes and scooters and avail
of shared-use electric vehicles. However, despite their increased usage
there is still no clear legislation or a regulatory framework around the use
of e-scooters. The three organisations are calling on the Minister to bring
forward late-stage amendments to ban the use of e-scooters on footpaths,
mandate designated parking bays, reduce the maximum speed limit, and to
ensure age restrictions and insurance requirements apply.
Recent research conducted by Dublin City Council demonstrates that 73% of
respondents identified Danger to other road users as a negative aspect of
e-scooters and 59% indicated a preference for designated parking for
e-scooters.
Lorna Fitzpatrick, Advocacy and Engagement Manager, NCBI said; Having the
infrastructure to support this use of electric vehicles is vital but the
legislation and regulations around use of e-scooters is essential to protect
the safety of pedestrians with access needs. We know from our own research
that 77% of respondents have already reported they had an incident with an
e-scooter on a footpath. The Bill bans the use of e-scooters on motorways
and busways yet not on footpaths that people with access needs rely on for
independent travel. There is clear evidence from at home and abroad that
e-scooters have caused harm to people when involved in accidents, yet the
Minister has not moved to mitigate against these risks within the
legislation.
Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind Advocacy Manager, Léan Kennedy, said; Blind
and vision impaired people have no way of pre-empting a collision with an
e-scooter in their travel space. Often encroaching e-scooters can startle a
Guide Dog forcing it to stop and thereby disorientating its owner. We know
that 90% of our clients are concerned for their safety in relation to
e-scooters, with 53% having had a negative experience or near collision with
an e-scooter. It should be easy to understand the need to prohibit e-scooter
use on footpaths and in pedestrianised shared use areas. Despite Ireland
having ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities, the needs of Guide Dog and Assistance Dog owners are being
neglected by the Minister in the development of this bill and it would take
minimal effort for the recommendations in our position paper to be
incorporated into the primary legislation. We strongly encourage the
Minister to meet with us before the confidence and freedom that people with
mobility and vision impairments currently enjoy comes to significant harm.
John Fulham, Irish Wheelchair Association Public Engagement Manager said;
The concerns and lived experience of people with disabilities and limited
mobility in relation to the use of e-scooters has been clearly communicated
by us to the Minister. Regrettably, this has not been deemed important
enough by the Minister and his department to be adequately addressed within
the proposed legislation. The safety and security of those with disabilities
and limited mobility is being compromised. Should the legislation remain in
its current form, it places those with disabilities and limited mobility in
a very vulnerable position. We urge Minister Ryan to reconsider his approach
and address the issues previously raised in the legislation.
All three organisations have again expressed their concerns that the
Minister has not been available to meet with them to hear directly about the
issues this legislation will have for people with access needs across the
country and again reiterate their openness and availability to meet with the
Minister at his earliest opportunity.
NCBI Press Releases & Blogs.
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