Hanno Velt is a motor expert and a former track racer. He is not optimistic about the new rental scooters on the streets of Tallinn. Velt says that most people lack the necessary skills to operate these vehicles. He expects many traffic accidents.
"Children can ride scooters and electric bicycles. But seeing how they fall, I think even adults can't handle them well," said Velt. "It's easier to ride a bicycle than a motorized vehicle."
Velt thinks that electric scooters are more dangerous than the new rental scooters. "Vehicles with soft suspension are safer. When you ride a scooter, the sense of security can be deceptive. The collision speed is still high," he said.
Velt is most concerned about the encounter of pedestrians and scooters on sidewalks. "If you ride on the sidewalk between people, accidents will definitely happen. These vehicles are hard to control," said Velt. "They should not be allowed on sidewalks because it is dangerous. Pedestrians move slowly, scooters move fast."
Velt recommends that scooters ride on the right side of the road, not on the sidewalk. He believes that scooters will become popular. "It's fun to ride them, but you have to be careful. Crossing with another vehicle can end in an accident," he said.
Velt thinks that Tallinn is too small for so many scooters. "When a thousand scooters come, we will see them everywhere: on the roads, sidewalks, and red roads," he said. The new rental scooters appeared on the streets of Tallinn this week. Their speed is limited to 25 km/h and they are not allowed to be used on sidewalks.