Adobe StockThe “dangerous use” of electric bikes and scooters is set to be debated by MSPs at Holyrood.
The Scottish Conservatives have supported a motion of concern over the “growing dangerous use of e-bikes and e-scooters” across Scotland, particularly in Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Dundee and Glasgow.
The motion calls on the Scottish Government to provide Police Scotland with the “appropriate resources” to tackle the issue, and urges “greater action to be taken against the anti-social use” of the items.
It is currently illegal for individuals under 14 to ride e-bikes in Scotland, while privately owned e-scooters cannot be used legally on public roads, pavements, cycle lanes, or in other public spaces.
Police in Glasgow have seized more than 200 e-scooters in the last six months.
The force said it is seeing an increase in incidents involving e-scooters, both on their own and in collisions with cars.
The Members’ Business Motion from Scottish Conservative MSP Sue Webber calls on the Scottish Government to provide Police Scotland with the “appropriate resources” to tackle the issue.
It also urges Ministers to “note the call for greater action to be taken against the antisocial use of e-bikes and e-scooters, to provide a safer environment for road users and pedestrians”.
The motion adds that “some e-bike and e-scooter users are often observed showing no regard for the traffic laws, endanger other road users and pedestrians, [and] appear to violate the legally mandated speed limit” and often do not use high-visibility clothing.
The Scottish Tories are also concerned at reports that e-bikes and e-scooters are “increasingly used to commit organised crime and vehicle theft”.
The motion will be debated at the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday evening in the Chamber.
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