One of Sheffield’s biggest train operators banned e-scooters on its services yesterday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Northern Trains said the scooters’ batteries are a fire risk, but in terms of their general safety there were mixed views.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Joanne Arden, CEO of the SRSB, said: “We realise that people and organisations do not deliberately set out to cause problems for our clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“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.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the station, one man agreed with SRSB’s concerns over e-scooters’ safety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said: “Where I drive, I’ve had a number of near misses where they’ve just shot straight out in front of me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“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.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other people at the station were more positive about them, pointing out their benefits for users.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tricia Williams, chief operating officer at Northern, said: “The safety of our customers and staff is our number one priority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“As these devices have become more and more popular, so have the horror stories of lithium batteries overheating and catching fire.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n