They are a menace and a danger to public safety. Despite being illegal, motorised electric scooters or e-scooters, continue to “terrorise” Malaysian roads.
The presence of e-scooters can be nerve-racking, not only to motorcyclists and drivers, but also to pedestrians, especially the blind.
I recently spotted a woman and a young boy scooting along the busy Jalan Sultan Ismail in Kuala Lumpur. The woman was at least 20m in front, while the boy, a tween, was trailing behind her.
The worst part? Both were not wearing any safety gear.
Last month, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong reiterated that under current laws in the Road Transport Act, electric scooters are banned from the streets.
Yet, it is baffling as to why the authorities are choosing to turn a blind eye to the problem. The inaction by the authorities is palpable. In fact, e-scooters for rent continue to line up pedestrian walkways and sidewalks, sometimes obstructing them.
Given the recent court decision involving the “basikal lajak” incident in Johor, one also wonders if a driver would be held accountable in the event of a collision with an e-scooter, resulting in injury or death.
Recently, it was reported that e-scooters have been eating away at the business of taxi drivers. Cabbies say that they are losing out on last-mile LRT users who prefer to use e-scooters to get to their destinations. The cheap cost of renting an e-scooter is indeed a big pull factor.
Of course, there are those who accuse taxi drivers of being “sour grapes”, just as when e-hailing services were gaining popularity in this country.
The cheap cost of e-scooter services is also a disadvantage. Users end up dumping their scooters indiscriminately at bus stops, roadsides, and walkways after their brief ride.
Proponents of e-scooters will argue that these machines are the future, with zero carbon emissions. As they do not pollute, they should be legalised – as seen in many European nations, including Belgium, France, and Germany.
Last month, Japan’s Parliament introduced a law, in which users of electric scooters no longer needed a licence. However, e-scooters are off-limits to those aged 16 and under. Riders are also not allowed to go beyond 20km/h.
Singapore allows the public to ride e-scooters, but users are only allowed to ride them on cycling paths. They must also not exceed 25km/h, and each model must have a maximum weight of 20kg.
As far as Malaysia is concerned, there have been talks of introducing new by-laws for micro-mobility vehicles, including e-scooters. This will involve licensing requirements, and the setting of speed limits.
But it remains a plan.
Until then, e-scooters remain illegal and should be removed from our streets.
