AN e-scooter crash victim is calling for safer green transport options in Redditch.
Dan Gavin, who broke his leg in the smash, was a regular scooter user until the incident on Easter Monday.
Dan further claims several others he knows have sustained ‘significant injuries’ from using e-scooters.
His comments come ahead of a public consultation next Wednesday (June 28) giving people the chance to discuss the future of the Bird trial.
Dan said while scooting along Bromsgrove Road on April 10, heavy rain reduced visibility so he decided to stop at a nearby bus shelter.
There was roadworks on the road with traffic lights and a small triangular warning sign on the path.
He only saw the sign at the last second and, despite swerving around it, the scooter’s right handlebar caught a hedge, leading to him lose his balance and fall off.
After ten hours at the Alexandra Hospital’s A&E, Dan discovered his left leg tibial plateau was fractured and he was transferred to the Worcestershire Royal for surgery.
He warned others to take extra care as he had found out the hard way how dangerous e-scooters could be.
“The injuries I sustained were most likely caused because you stand up when riding an e-scooter and my leg was straight when it hit the ground.
“I am all for greener modes of transportation but believe e-bikes to be the way forward rather than e-scooters,” he said.
He reported the incident to Bird, which states on its website riders are covered for personal accidents in most countries where the firm operates, even if the incident is deemed the rider’s mistake.
However, he claimed he was then told the UK was not one of the countries it applies to.
There is not an option to access a UK edition of a Bird insurance certificate which covers personal accidents on their website.
Other concerns for Dan included seeing children as young as ten or 11 using them in the town.
He said there needed to be designated areas where e-bikes and e-scooters were unlocked and locked before and after rides to avoid them being left stranded over pathways.
A Bird spokesperson said: “Safety is a top priority at Bird.
“Bird’s user agreement requires riders to observe the relevant laws and road traffic regulations, such as riding on sidewalks, to avoid pedestrians and other obstacles.
“Additionally, users are not entitled to rent a Bird scooter if under the influence of alcohol or other substances that could impair driving ability.
“With best-in-class safety features, Bird scooters maintain the same or lower accident rates involving injury than bicycles (“Bird Safety Report – April 2019 (2)”) and provide mobility solutions to citizens around Europe.”
