PETER HITCHENS: As Paris acts, why do we STILL have to live in fear of the e-scooter menace?
I think that I shall meet my fate somewhere upon a London street, splatted on a pavement or a pedestrian crossing by an electric bike or an electric scooter. I used to think I would probably be killed while riding my bicycle, and it is still a risk, but you can take precautions against that. It is far harder to guard against this silent speedy danger.
I experience or witness more and more near misses involving these horrible vehicles. Recently I was walking through the City of London and instinct caused me to jump aside before a hundredweight of e-bike, doing about 30mph, came tearing by from behind, zig-zagging on the pavement.
There were no police officers to be seen, as usual.
If you try to lift an e-bike from the heaps in which they often lie, you will find them enormously heavy. The e-scooters, which are lighter, can weave into any corner and are the ideal getaway vehicle for the mugger or the fleeing pickpocket.
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If you try to lift an e-bike from the heaps in which they often lie, you will find them enormously heavy. Pictured: Self-service e-scooters parked in Paris