The Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan has said that a new bill published today (19 October) will remove legal barriers to the use of e-scooters and e-bikes.

Under the proposals, a new class of powered personal transporters (PPTs) – including e-scooters – will be created.

The Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2021 will allow the minister to provide for the use of these vehicles in public places, under existing regulatory powers.

Quads and scramblers

Other measures in the bill include stronger powers to deal with “dangerous and anti-social" off-road use of scramblers, quads, and other similar vehicles.

The proposed legislation will also support the newly installed system of traffic management on the M50, while another element of the bill is aimed at speeding up the implementation of BusConnects.

The Government says that another measure in the bill will strengthen law enforcement, by directly linking licensed drivers to registered vehicles.

Database of drivers

“These proposals in the bill should be seen as part of our wider efforts to encourage alternative forms of mobility, reduce our culture of reliance on the private car, and open opportunities for active and healthy travel,” said Minister Ryan.

There are also amendments to complete the statutory basis of a shared database of insured drivers.

Minister of State Hildegarde Naughton said the completion of the database would help to combat uninsured drivers, as well as bring down the cost of insurance for law-abiding drivers.