Police warn e-scooter riders in Bracknell town centre

That’s the message from Thames Valley Police after two e-scooter riders were warned about their use of the devices in the town centre on Wednesday, June 16.

Officers were out and about around The Lexicon raising awareness about the law surrounding e-scooters following concerns raised about the dangers the devices can pose to pedestrians.

Image via TVP

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E-scooters qualify as ‘powered transporters’ and are therefore required to have MOT, tax, licensing and insurance.

As e-scooters can’t currently meet these requirements, riding a privately-owned e-scooter on a public road, or another public place, is a road traffic offence.

Image via TVP

PC Carla May, of the Bracknell Neighbourhood Policing Team said: “The town centre of Bracknell is a pedestrian area and there have been concerns regarding cyclists and more recently the use of e-scooters and the speed in which they travel and the risk this poses to potentially cause a serious accident.

“On Wednesday, we issued two warnings to people riding e-scooters through the town, and issued a fixed penalty ticket to a cyclist.

“Details of nine students were also taken who were cycling through the town centre, and have been passed on to the local school.

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“I’d like to remind cyclists that the town centre is a pedestrian zone, and we will stop you if we see you cycling through.

Image via TVP

“Any person who uses an e-scooter on a public road, pavement or other prohibited space is committing a criminal offence and can be prosecuted.”

Officers' warnings to e-scooter users comes after the News conducted its own investigation into whether Bracknell had a town centre problem with the vehicles.

One person the News spoke to said: “We’re in the grey area with them at the moment; are they legal, where should they be?

“But moving forwards, it’s better than taking a car to town, so there is a future for them.

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“I’ve seen them whizz up and down here and if the security is around I see them jump off so they know they shouldn't be riding them.

“I haven’t had any problems with them but people have had near-misses with them.

“It’s going to take an accident [before more is done to clamp down on them]. That’s how it always happens, someone will get hurt and then something will happen.”