What People Are Saying: When we asked if illegal e-scooters on paths should be stopped and crushed, local folks jumped right in. The chat in the group got 215+ reactions and 177+ comments, and people are still adding their thoughts days later.
Voices from the Town: Most people wrote about close calls and feeling worried on our streets:
One local parent shared what happens on the school run: "The amount of times I've had to pull my 5 year old son out of the way because they come zooming up behind us on the pavement is a joke."
Another neighbour talked about how powerful these machines really are: "I witness daily what these things are capable of. In the case of e-bikes, they are nothing short of electronic motorbikes, capable of high speeds and are being used on our pavements with no requirements for insurance or any kind of test."
A local resident pointed out the dangers of young riders: "The culture of kids riding them underage is the problem... they have no road sense and are not mature enough to navigate traffic at speed."
A driver spoke up about road crossings: "Sick of seeing them with 2 or 3 people on them, in the roads, then to get through lights up on the pavement, if they get hit, who's responsible?"
Another person saw them inside shops: "I saw an e-bike being ridden in Co-op in the week two up, that's gospel. Security didn't even move as far as I saw."
A homeowner shared worries about speed near houses: "It scares me when they go past my house I can't imagine the damage they do if they come off how fast they go."
Looking at sad news in nearby towns, another resident said: "There was a fatality last week in Taunton and only a matter of time before there is one around here."
A New Question for Avon and Somerset Constabulary
Force-wide Action vs. Local Eyes: The Avon and Somerset Roads Policing Unit shared news that 30 illegal e-scooters were seized across the county to be destroyed. That is good news, but people want to see it working right here at home. As one local watcher noted after seeing a rider zip past a police car without trouble: we need to know the rules are actually working on our own streets.
A Fair, Solutions-Focused Plan: Instead of just arguing, we need a smart plan that makes our neighbourhoods safer for everyone—similar to the practical, public-first teamwork seen in places like Darlington. When leaders work together with local police to run targeted checks in problem spots, it stops bad behaviour before someone gets hurt, without wasting officers' time on endless individual chases. As local residents pointed out, selling seized scooters back off at auction makes no sense, but taking strong, fair steps to clear paths makes our towns better for working families, kids, and older people alike.
Make Your Voice Heard: Join our growing community campaign. to hold Avon and Somerset Police to account on this issue. Keep sharing your stories, report dangerous riding to local officers via the Avon and Somerset Police Reporting Portal, and hit share to help protect Bridgwater's paths!
