Blind campaigners demand TfL stop the e-scooter trials making them afraid to leave their homes – South London News

By Jacob Phillips, native democracy reporter

Blind campaigners have demanded Transport for London cease its e-scooter trials because the autos make them afraid to go away their houses.

Hammersmith resident and blind activist Andrew Hodgeson is fearful the scooters frighten blind folks as they concern being knocked over or tripped up by them.

Since 2019 the scooters have been linked to at the least 5 deaths within the UK together with a 16-year-old boy in Bromley after a hit-and-run collision with a automotive.

The electrical scooters are presently being trialled in 9 London boroughs together with Hammersmith and Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster and the Metropolis of London.

Andrew, who can also be the UK’s Nationwide Federation of the Blind president, stated: “I do know people who find themselves frightened. If they’d a close to miss with an e-scooter they in all probability wouldn’t exit.

“We need to have the liberty to stroll our streets safely. There isn’t any means of stopping them. Our resolution could be to ban them altogether.”

The federation lately took a petition to 10 Downing Road asking for a halt on all rent schemes within the UK and requested for all e-scooters to stay unlawful on British roads.

Campaigners say the autos are a harmful journey hazard for disabled folks when they’re parked.

Presently as much as 150 e-scooters can be found for rent within the trial London boroughs – however the campaigners are fearful {that a} rising variety of e-scooters will trigger extra hazards.

Campaigner Sarah Gayton stated: “Instantly there can be 500 e-scooters in every borough. This can lengthen into a large downside. There isn’t any means this may be policed safely.

“They’re unstable. The kick board is a visit hazard. There’s a blind woman who has fallen over them 14 occasions.”

Helen Sharp, TfL’s e-scooter trial lead, stated: “We would like this trial to work for everyone in London. All of the rental e-scooters have bells and everybody who hires an e-scooter is required to finish security coaching.

“Rental e-scooters even have GPS managed parking, which means that journeys can solely finish in designated parking bays. This additionally helps stop obstruction with pedestrians.

“The rental operators are participating with the visually impaired group to discover additional progressive options together with audible indicators.

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