Colchester's abandoned e-scooters spark complaints

A public hire e-scooter trial has been running in Colchester since February.

E-scooter rental company Spin, alongside Essex County Council and Essex Police, is running the year-long scheme as part of the council’s greener transport campaign.

However, since the trial was launched, there have been complaints made about Spin scooters dumped on pavements blocking people’s paths.

Disability campaigner Hollie-Anne Brooks recently complained to Spin about an e-scooter left on a pavement in Colchester, which she could not get around using her wheelchair.

Resident Roy Buckland has also come across several abandoned e-scooters in the area.

He said: “Scooters are a danger to road users and walkers.

“There are pick up points but no disposal locations due to the nature of their use.”

Gerard Oxford, Highwoods ward councillor at Colchester Council who also champions disabled rights, said: “We have had quiet a few complaints of dumped e-scooters and also people using them on pavements when they should be on the road.”

There have also been complaints about how the e-scooters are being used.

Earlier this month, a man caught riding an e-scooter while over the drink drive limit was issued with a driving ban.

Police officers also seized two e-scooters being illegally used and one of the riders was also found to be in possession of drugs.

Steve Pyer, a country manager for Spin, said the company now has on-street ambassadors across Essex to help rearrange e-scooters if they are left inappropriately.

He added: “We work collaboratively with Essex County Council and Colchester Council on addressing those that need attention and we engage with national and local stakeholder groups, such as Essex Sight and Hearing Help Essex.

“We are continuously improving our services in Essex based on such feedback.

“We now have on-street ambassadors across Essex who help rearrange e-scooters if parked inappropriately.

“Soon, we will also have more visible licence plates for easier rider identification. In the app, riders are reminded every day about rider etiquette.

He added: “If we detect bad behaviour of our riders we issue warnings and penalties and if need be, we suspend them.

“It should be noted that Spin does not have control over those riders’ behaviour who still chose to ride private e-scooters on public roads illegally, which seems to happen quite frequently, and some of the feedback we receive often concern those riders.”

E-scooters which are part of the Spin trial are orange-branded and legal on Essex Roads.

Whereas private e-scooters, are usually black and illegal on Essex Roads, and are not linked to the trial or Essex County Council.