Councillors bid to address concerns on e-scooter use in Letterkenny

Councillors will discuss the rising use of e-scooters in Letterkenny in a bid to address concerns.

A motion, tabled by Councillor Gerry McMonagle, is before Tuesday’s meeting of the Letterkenny-Milford Municipal District.

The Letterkenny-based Sinn Féin representative has asked that ‘in the interest of safety for all road and footpath users’ that a discussion is held on the possible introduction of bye-laws to regulate their usage.

E-scooters have become a popular mode of transport around the town.

In the first six months pf the year, there were 74 road traffic collisions involving e-scooters across the country.

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In April, Paris voted to ban rental e-scooters after many raised concerns the battery-operated devices were unsafe as a mode of transport and causing a nuisance on the roads.

Councillor McMonagle says he has been contacted by a number of concerned people.

“There has been a rise in the number of electric scooters using the footpaths and crisscrossing between the road and footpath,” Councillor McMonagle told Donegal Live.

“Local people feel there should be rules governing their use to ensure that everyone is protected including the scooter riders.

“Some of these scooters travel very fast and parents are concerned for their children whilst out walking or evening out riding their own bikes.

“I think we should, before a serious accident occurs, put in place some rules or bye-laws to regulate where and how these electric scooters should be used. Safety for all is paramount and thats what brings me to bringing this motion forward.”