They bring trouble wherever they are

Pre-Covid, I travelled extensively. Britain was one of the last countries to trial these e-scooters and bikes, and all the mayhem caused by them here should have been foreseen because it happened in European cities five or more years ago.

They are ideal for crime such as mugging and drug deliveries. Nowhere I know of has found a way to keep them off footpaths. Paris tried huge fines but first you have to catch them. Most police forces have given up.

The theory that it will get people out of their cars is complete rubbish – riders are mainly under 25 and just the people who should be walking or cycling to reduce obesity in the young.

You can’t do the school run on an e-scooter, although we’ve all seen them ridden ‘twos-up’. It’s time politicians took their heads out of the sand and banned the sale or hire of them before it becomes impossible to put the genie back in the bottle.

We have a trial hire scheme here in Portsmouth and the local politicians are virtually ignoring all the negatives – I bet none of them have the guts to call for a local referendum.

Terry Pearson, Portsmouth

To those who complain about e-bikes being dangerous because they make no sound, I have an e-bike and they are not silent.

The tyres make a loud noise while moving, plus the motor makes noise when pedalling. People hear me most of the time and move out of the way and I don’t even need to ask them. So, if people were on the ball and not listening to music or playing with their phones, they would hear them coming.

Fan, via email

Allowing cyclists to act above the law has paved the way for moped drivers and now e-scooters too.

E-scooters are illegal to use on highways/pavements, yet their being on general sale has resulted in them being everywhere. It’s time to ban the sale of them and clear the streets of their illegal usage.

Paul, London

I usually find the demonisation of cyclists in Metro infuriating but Guy Venables’ cartoon yesterday (above left) did make me laugh.

Greg, Gillingham