A survey by DG Cities looking at public perceptions of e-scooters in the UK has found that only a fifth of people think they are safe for other road users.
Just over a quarter of respondents (26.3%) think e-scooters are safe for their riders.
The survey was distributed to UK residents between September and October last year and had more than 1,500 responses.
One fifth of people had used an e-scooter, while younger people were far more likely to scoot around than older people.
Only 3.3% of those aged 75+ had ridden an e-scooter compared to 42.2% of 18 to 24-year-olds.
“Age appears to be inversely related to usership – as individuals age, they become less likely to use e-scooters,” said DG Cities.
E-scooters can be a divisive topic inciting some strong emotions amongst the public.
One 25 to 34-year-old female respondent said: “I think they are brilliant! I see them driving around now and again and nobody is using them antisocially, they’re just getting around like the rest of us.”
But another 65 to 74-year-old male respondent disagreed.
“Useless for the elderly on infirm. If it’s cold you freeze. If it’s wet you get soaked. If it’s dark no one will see you. You can’t carry anything bigger than a small shoulder bag. They are just a trendy novelty.”
This age divide was reflected in whether respondents thought they should be made legal too. While half of those aged 18 to 24 said they should be made legal, only 11.4% of people aged 75+ agreed.
One area where respondents were more aligned in their views was the e-scooters impact on fighting climate change. Almost half (45.6%) could see the environmental benefits of these electric vehicles.
Following the survey results, DG Cities have made a number of recommendations. As safety was cited as a major concern for the public, this should be reflected in how services are designed and implemented, said the company.
Services should be designed in conjunction with end-users, while regulation and licensing should be better communicated to the public to improve understanding.
