CALLS have been made to crack down on insane electric scooter riders and maniacs on motorised hover boards who are speeding along ‘dangerously’ on the roads and footpaths.
Residents say e-scooters are ‘weaving in and out of traffic’ as well as terrorising pedestrians, risking their own lives as well as well as anyone who gets in their way.
Members of Southern Municipal Council yesterday unanimously approved an urgent proposal by council chairman Abdulla Abdullatif to urge police to take action against the perpetrators.
“Riders are popping up everywhere and anywhere,” he said. “They can be seen weaving between vehicles in heavy traffic making them even more dangerous than delivery bikers!
“At night, they can’t be clearly seen and they come out from the narrowest of neighbourhood alleys and passageways on to main streets without a care in the world.
“They are violating the law by driving without a licence on roads and causing concern in residential areas, upsetting the elderly and families walking with young children.”
He pointed out to his colleagues that both devices were available in the local market as ‘recreational devices’ and not as proper registered vehicles but too many were not using them as intended.
Mr Abdullatif stressed that they are now widely ridden for short distances by commuters and young people mall and café hopping in the cool weather.
He acknowledged that the electric devices were offering a green alternative to transportation, significantly reducing carbon emissions and noise pollution, but there was currently a threatening and dangerous downside to their use.
Perhaps Parliament needed to draw up legislation to regulate their use and determine the specific types allowed in Bahrain, he suggested.
Mr Abdullatif urged the Interior Ministry to take immediate action by clamping down on the reckless riders.
“I have seen firsthand how effective they are during the Autumn Fair and the Gulf Air Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix and for fun at some public parks,” he said.
“But as they are now being used as an actual road vehicle the Interior Ministry needs to take action.
“Tracking down the offenders won’t be easy as none of them need to display number plates or have the devices registered.”
Comparative studies show that electric scooters generally offer better performance and higher speeds, suitable for longer urban commutes, while hover boards are ideal for shorter, leisurely trips.
Batteries on e-scooters are larger and take longer to charge, but some have a fast charging option. Due to their smaller batteries, hover board batteries charge faster, but, by the same token, their range is much shorter.
Electric scooters, with their handlebars and brakes, provide more stability and are easier to learn, whereas hover boards require a bit more practice.
Strategic Thinking Bloc president MP Ahmed Al Salloom said drawing up a blueprint for a legislation to regulate their use should be the first step.
“We need to study all international regulations and legal aspects as they vary significantly across countries and many specific technical requirements would also need to be incorporated too,” he said.
“Their use in crowded or congested areas needs to be risk accessed. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
“Clearly they are not bicycles, they are not motorbikes and they are not cars, but they have become a means of transportation and, in future, as sustainable urban transport becomes a reality, they will be more than just a playful device and for that we need to act now.”
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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