E-scooters on footpaths are causing major safety problem in Laois

Signage prohibiting the use of e-scooters on footpaths has been called for

Published 24th Jun 2026, 13:25 BST File photo. Signage prohibiting the use of e-scooters on footpaths has been called for Sign up to our Laois Live newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know you can manage your profile, and explore all of the available newsletters from Laois Live within your account.

There have been a number of near misses and some people have been knocked down by e-scooters in Laois , according to a local councillor.

Councillor Aidan Mullins has called for Laois County Council to erect street signage in Laois that indicates the use of e-scooters on footpaths is not permitted and is an offence.

“Everyone is finding this issue in different towns around the county. There’s been a number of near misses and a number of people have been knocked down and injured by e-scooters,” Cllr Mullins said at the June meeting of the Graiguecullen/ Portarlington MD.

“It’s a common occurrence around the country. The problem we have is the lack of enforcement of the new e-scooter regulations.”

New legislation was introduced in recent years which banned e-scooters from footpaths. The regulations also state that e-scooter users must be 16 years old or older and obey a speed limit of 20km/h. E-scooters are also banned from carrying passengers.

However, Cllr Mullins argued that a lot of e-scooter users are “ignorant” of the new regulations as many do carry passengers and use footpaths.

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The most recent study on the use of e-scooters in Ireland by the RSA states that a quarter of e-scooter users have been involved in a collision and almost a third have experienced a near miss.

The study showed that one in three people do use e-scooters on footpaths and around one in ten do carry adult or child passengers.

Cllr Mullins said that he believes ‘No E-scooter’ signage would deter users from travelling on footpaths.

However, Laois County Council said there is no specific standardised regulatory sign for ‘No E-scooters on Footpath.’ Local Authorities can use the “No Cycling” or “No Bicycle” signage which legally applies to E-scooters.

Laois County Council has no plans or budget to erect “No Bicycle Signs” across the county.

Responding to this, the Portarlington councillor said that such signage is unnecessary because bicycles are rarely on footpaths and most people wouldn’t be aware that the rule extends to e-scooters.

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Director of Services with Laois County Council, Julie Bergin, noted that this would be driven at a national level.

“That funding would be provided and it would be done across the country and not just individual local authorities doing their own thing on it,” Ms Bergin explained.

She did say that there should possibly be a campaign to highlight the issue.

Related topics: Portarlington Laois Laois County Council Sign up to our Laois Live newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know you can manage your profile, and explore all of the available newsletters from Laois Live within your account.