E-Scooter Rider Takes Off After Knocking Down Young Boy
The curse of electric scooters continues.
The curse of electric scooters continues, this time with a young boy wiped out as he stepped out of an ice-cream shop.
Channel 9 has secured the CCTV footage of the incident, which also shows the rider leaving the scene as young Leon lies on the ground.
Leon told Channel 9 'it was just shocking'.
"It was just so scary, especially for a young kid like me. I didn't even see the scooter coming. It just happened randomly behind me," he said.
The incident took place in Melbourne, which only rolled out a trial of the travel devices on February 1.
As part of the trial, 1,500 Lime and Neuron e-scooters have been thrust onto the streets of the suburbs within City of Melbourne, City of Yarra and City of Port Phillip.
The experiment lasts for one year and could be extended, pending the outcome.
Material from the City of Melbourne about the trial notes the 'micro-mobility' machines have a maximum speed of 20km/h and are only allowed on share paths, bike lanes and low-speed roads.
They are not, however, meant to be on footpaths.
"Along with applying new e-scooter vehicle standards, the Lime and Neuron trial will have a strong emphasis on safety - including in-built technology to promote responsible riding, and specialised training and safety measures for new users," City of Melbourne said in January.
"Riders must adhere to most of the same rules as bike riders, including wearing a helmet and slowing down to give way to pedestrians on shared paths."
The City's Lord Mayor, Sally Capp, said it would be exciting to see flashes of neon orange and green on Melbourne's streets and that she 'can't wait to see people safely scooting about'.
"The trial will provide another fun way to get to your next meeting, meet people after work or explore our stunning city."
While advocates say these initiatives make cities more accessible, disability advocates have repeatedly pointed out the additional barriers they present for the already less mobile to safely navigate through the streets.
Featured Image Credit: Channel 9Vivienne Kelly