One of Sheffield’s biggest train operators banned e-scooters on its services yesterday.
Northern Trains said the scooters’ batteries are a fire risk, but in terms of their general safety there were mixed views.
The Sheffield Royal Society for the Blind (SRSB) highlighted the risks e-scooters pose, because of how “quiet and fast” they are, to the city’s blind people.
Joanne Arden, CEO of the SRSB, said: “We realise that people and organisations do not deliberately set out to cause problems for our clients.
“People would most likely be really upset to think that they might have caused a problem, but many of us who are lucky enough to have good sight or mobility may take it for granted and just don’t think about the consequences for others.”
At the station, one man agreed with SRSB’s concerns over e-scooters’ safety.
He said: “Where I drive, I’ve had a number of near misses where they’ve just shot straight out in front of me.
“If they’ve banned them on the trains, there’s got to be a good reason for it. I don’t like banning things, I’m against it, I’m so against it, but I do think that things need to be regulated.”
Other people at the station were more positive about them, pointing out their benefits for users.
One woman said: “I went on one a couple of weeks ago and it was really good. It’s definitely a good idea for people who don’t want to use cars for short trips.”
Another visitor at the station said: “I’ve never ridden one myself. But as long as people use them sensibly, I don’t really have much of an issue, to me it’s just like a bike.”
Tricia Williams, chief operating officer at Northern, said: “The safety of our customers and staff is our number one priority.
“As these devices have become more and more popular, so have the horror stories of lithium batteries overheating and catching fire.”
More on Northern’s policy on e-scooters can be found on its website.
