THERE are growing concerns over how Bird e-scooters are being used in Redditch, four weeks into the 12-month trial.
The e-scooters are designed to decrease congestion and improve air quality but some residents believe they are just being abandoned in the streets.
While riders are meant to leave the e-scooters wherever their journey ends, Bird says they should be tucked away neatly and not blocking public paths.
At an executive meeting this week, borough councillors said that some youngsters in the town are borrowing driving licences to use the e-scooters illegally.
And that parents should take more responsibility rather than letting their child use e-scooters without proper authority.
Mount Pleasant resident Ralph Gallagher told the Standard: “I had to move one e-scooter away from the pavement outside my neighbour’s house because people couldn’t get passed.
“I could see it was blocking people from my house.
“This is going to cause a lot of trouble for people in Redditch – they are a hazard.
“Two more were dumped outside the old council house at the top of Salop Road.
“I go out litter picking on the weekends and I see them dumped in pathways.”
Senior manager at Bird, Harry Porter, said the company is working with the local authority to address concerns.
“We have had a small number of reports of parents giving their children access to the scooters,” he said.
“We would like to remind our users that you must be over 18 and have a provisional or full driving licence in order to ride.
“Accounts associated with underage riding will be blocked from using our service.”
He added that, overall, Bird has had really positive feedback since the launch.
“Thousands of people have downloaded the app to use the service.”
