Great Western Coffee Shop

All across the Great Western territory => Buses and other ways to travel => Topic started by: CJB666 on November 03, 2021, 19:45:00



Title: Call to Ban e-Scooters from Public Transport
Post by: CJB666 on November 03, 2021, 19:45:00
This an increasing problem as the lithium batteries - likely made in China - catch fire.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-london-59152000

E-scooter catches fire on London Underground train

Passengers had to abandon a service at Parsons Green station in west London after a scooter caught fire then continued to burn on the platform.

Some were seen coughing on the platform as smoke billowed from several rear carriages.

Transport union TSSA said e-scooters posed a "significant threat" to the public and rail staff and that Transport for London should halt the carrying of e-scooters on all its services.

===


Title: Re: Call to Ban e-Scooters from Public Transport
Post by: stuving on November 03, 2021, 20:01:26
For reference, Transport for London Conditions of Carriage for Bus, Tube, Tram, DLR, London Overground and TfL Rail Services (https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwisypir_PzzAhWSN8AKHdy-CcsQFnoECA0QAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fcontent.tfl.gov.uk%2Ftfl-conditions-of-carriage.pdf&usg=AOvVaw3i3gli_SFedA31rnbIg-yD) (which does not seem to be accessible by a link in their own site) says:

Quote
9.4 You may bring with you:
• personal possessions and luggage that you are able to carry yourself (including on stairs and escalators)
• folding buggies, folding bicycles and scooters (including electric scooters) that you are able to carry yourself (including on stairs and escalators)
• any other item, provided it is not dangerous or likely to injure anyone.
You may be asked to fold your buggy, bicycle and/or scooter.

9.5 You must not bring with you anything that:
• is more than 2 metres long
• you are unable to carry yourself (including on stairs and escalators)
• is hazardous or inflammable
• is likely to cause injury or obstruct other customers or staff
• is likely to cause damage to buses, trams, trains or stations.

9.6 You cannot take a rental electric scooter on our bus, Tube, Tram, DLR, London Overground, TfL Rail and Emirates Air Line services.



Title: Re: Call to Ban e-Scooters from Public Transport
Post by: ChrisB on November 03, 2021, 22:40:05
There may be a requirement to remove the battery before boarding in future, assuming that they are user-accessible. Otherwise I don’t know….but other than rental, e-scooters are illegal to use in public, and so could be banned more easily


Title: Re: Call to Ban e-Scooters from Public Transport
Post by: Bmblbzzz on November 04, 2021, 07:59:50
I'd like to know how the fire started. The most likely situation is while charging, but I don't think there are any electric sockets on tube trains?

Apart from this, the implications for electric wheelchair users on the trains could be problematic.


Title: Re: Call to Ban e-Scooters from Public Transport
Post by: Surrey 455 on November 04, 2021, 20:26:37
I'd like to know how the fire started. The most likely situation is while charging, but I don't think there are any electric sockets on tube trains?

Apart from this, the implications for electric wheelchair users on the trains could be problematic.

Weren't Samsung Galaxy Note phones catching fire without being plugged in a few years back? I seem to recall them being banned from planes because of this.


Title: Re: Call to Ban e-Scooters from Public Transport
Post by: Bmblbzzz on November 05, 2021, 15:15:30
Quote
The company said that errors both in design and manufacturing affected batteries by two different manufacturers.

According to the findings, the problems centred on insufficient insulation material within the batteries and a design that did not give enough room to safely accommodate the batteries' electrodes.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-38714461

Phones and tablets generally are an example of where airlines etc make compromises between safety and practicability, or between safety and commerce if you like. A phone is in more continuous use than a scooter but a scooter has a larger battery: larger than in e-bikes but I don't know how they compare to those in electric wheelchairs. AFAIK there's no ban on electric cars in tunnels and ferries.


Title: Re: Call to Ban e-Scooters from Public Transport
Post by: broadgage on November 06, 2021, 19:22:47
Sounds an overreaction to a SINGLE fire, but arguably justified to ban them from LUL services if this is becoming a regular event.

BTW, I have long felt that underground trains should be fitted with smoke detectors, several in each carriage. Operation of these should be silent and NOT stop the train which is the last thing wanted, carrying on to the next station is almost certainly the best option. The driver should be alerted and STARTING away from the next stop be prevented until the matter has been investigated.


Title: Re: Call to Ban e-Scooters from Public Transport
Post by: Timmer on November 06, 2021, 22:19:32
Sounds an overreaction to a SINGLE fire, but arguably justified to ban them from LUL services if this is becoming a regular event.
Imagine if this had happened on one of the deep tube lines? Outright ban for me. You don’t take TfL bikes on the underground, so why should electric scooters be aloud?


Title: Re: Call to Ban e-Scooters from Public Transport
Post by: broadgage on November 06, 2021, 23:10:34
I agree that a ban is reasonable if fires are a regular occurrence, but still consider this to be an over reaction to a "one off"

After all they allow folding electric cycles, laptop PCs,  and cordless power tools, all of which contain lithium batteries.

I have had at least three lithium batteries catch fire, one at work, one on a FGW train, and one in a public building, and still have the injury from one incident.


Title: Re: Call to Ban e-Scooters from Public Transport
Post by: IndustryInsider on December 09, 2021, 13:37:32
TfL ban from Monday:

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/escooters-ban-tube-london-tfl-sadiq-khan-fines-parsons-green-b970956.html


Title: Re: Call to Ban e-Scooters from Public Transport
Post by: ChrisB on December 09, 2021, 16:41:07
Includes e-unicycles…didn’t know these existed!


Title: Re: Call to Ban e-Scooters from Public Transport
Post by: Lee on December 09, 2021, 17:28:43
Includes e-unicycles…didn’t know these existed!

Just for you Chris...



Title: Re: Call to Ban e-Scooters from Public Transport
Post by: TaplowGreen on December 09, 2021, 17:43:23
Reminds me of Simon & Lyndsay from The Fast Show........."Let's offroad!"  :D


Title: Re: Call to Ban e-Scooters from Public Transport
Post by: Lee on December 09, 2021, 17:53:15
Reminds me of Simon & Lyndsay from The Fast Show........."Let's offroad!"  :D

Xmas has come early for you as well, TG!



Title: Re: Call to Ban e-Scooters from Public Transport
Post by: CyclingSid on December 10, 2021, 06:56:20
Unfortunately too many Land-Rover drivers like that. If you have never been there before, it doesn't hurt to walk it first. Don't turn into the mud, front wheels pointing across the line of travel and acting as a brake. If it becomes impassable, before you bog it, makes sure you have an escape route.

Spoken as an ex-military Land-Rover owner and driver who spent too much time winching out people who didn't know what they were doing. Plus Off-Road for most SUVs is parking on the verge.



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