Gerry Horkan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his comprehensive outline of the Bill. As a member of the transport committee, I have seen quite a bit of activity on this issue. A number of the potential scooter operators have made presentations to the transport committee and have outlined their views as to where it goes next. Scooters have been used in many cities, in some cases in a better way than others. It has not always worked well but equally, it has and they have learned a lot from their mistakes. I welcome this particular Bill. As outlined by the Minister, some of the measures were contained in the programme for Government. There was strong emphasis in Fianna Fáil from people like Deputies Lahart and McAuliffe and others on scrambler bikes and the damage they can do, both in the public realm and in parks and to individuals, where very serious accidents and fatalities have happened as a result of the misuse of scramblers, maybe not even to those using the bikes themselves but to people who have been injured by others who were using them. I welcome that very much.

As I was cycling in today, the speed limit notification sign noted in red that the car in front of me was doing 52 km/h and as I was cycling past, I was doing 29 km/h. I did not realise I was doing 29 km/h but the e-bikes will be limited to 25 km/h. I do not know what will happen as ordinary cyclists are all okay to travel at 29 km/h but the e-bikes will be limited to 25 km/h. I am not sure whether 25 km/h is the right maximum limit for an e-bike. I certainly share the thoughts of Senator Garvey who was with us earlier, in respect of a modal shift. I hope scooters are a modal shift from cars as opposed to a modal shift from walking on footpaths. Every car off the road is a benefit to everybody. It is of benefit to the person who is doing more active travel and to the other cars because there are fewer cars on the road to congest and clog up the space for those who are still willing and wanting to drive or in some cases need to drive because they no longer have the mobility to engage active travel.

I have known Senator Boyhan for almost 20 years and I know he is not being-----