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BACKBENCH TD has criticized former Transportation Minister Shane Ross for being a “waste of time” for his inaction in legalizing electric scooters and bicycles.
Alan Farrell accused Ross of showing “disdain” and “disinterest” in introducing legislation to regulate the use of the devices on Irish roads.
The Fine Gael TD is set to propose a new bill in the coming weeks to legalize the widespread use of e-scooters and electric bikes, bringing them in line with the laws that apply to pedal bikes.
The Private Member’s Personal Light Electric Vehicle Bill, which is part of the Road Traffic Act, seeks to amend traffic legislation to allow electric scooters and electric bicycles such as bicycles to be exempt from insurance. Therefore, they could be used on public roads and cycle lanes.
Electric scooters and electric bicycles are currently not regulated in Ireland. There is no specific law that covers them.
They are considered mechanically powered vehicles, which means that if they are used in public places, users must be in possession of a license and insurance.
They are ministers of FG @ReginaDo Y @PaulKehoe saying that the public should stay in the dark about cabinet affairs? The Department of Justice was a stronghold of secrecy for judge appointments during the last administration. #inbedwiththeblueshirts https://t.co/zoULU95sCt
– Shane Ross (@ Ross_Shane1) October 27, 2020
Farrell said Ross had shown “no political will” to rectify the gray area of its use during his time in office, even though the matter was on the department’s radar for three years.
“Minister Ross was a waste of time, and I mean a complete lack of respect for him, in relation to the way he handled this project,” he said.
He added that Ross had treated e-scooters with “disdain and disinterest.”
“I think he left it behind several years,” he said.
Ross published a revealing book last month, titled In Bed with the Blueshirts, about his nearly four years as a Cabinet minister.
He has received strong criticism from the Ministers of Fine Gael and TD who accused him of breaching cabinet confidentiality.
Farrell argued that e-scooters and electric bikes are now an “integral” part of the Irish transport system, describing them as a very viable and environmentally friendly means of transport.
“Let’s be honest, they can also be quite fun,” he added.
Dublin Fingal representative said he has an e-scooter but does not use it due to ambiguous laws.
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“I am a 43-year-old MP and I have an electric scooter, and I do not use it because I do not want to be a MP who gets an illegal device pricked,” he said.
“I wish I could get on my electric scooter and slide downhill from my house, and get on the Dart, for example, and get off at Pearse Street and go to Leinster House three times a week. I would love not to use my car. “
Farrell added that under the government’s current Covid-19 restrictions, it would make even more sense for people not to have to worry about public transportation and to be able to go from A to B on an e-scooter.
Legislating for the use of electric scooters and electric bicycles is one of the commitments of the Government Program as part of the coalition government’s commitment to reduce carbon emissions.
Farrell said he believes the bill could pass in the Houses of the Oireachtas early next year. But it understands that there are security concerns associated with the devices and has tried to address those concerns in the bill.
Earlier this month, the Road Safety Authority asked parents not to buy electric scooters for their children this Christmas, warning that in the hands of children they represent a high risk since they can travel at considerable speed.
The proposed bill would impose an upper speed limit of 25 km / h, an upper power limit of 250 watts and a minimum age of 16 years.
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