NAVAN COUNCILLOR TELLS OF NARROW ESCAPE WITH E SCOOTER BEING DRIVEN RECKLESSLY

Wednesday 07th May 2025, 09:12 am

A Navan Cllr has spoken of her narrow escape when a young person travelling at speed on an E Scooter almost collided with her, sending her flying.

Aontú’s Emer Tóibín tells how she was walking near the Ramparts when a young lad on an e-scooter came flying around a corner and nearly knocked her over.She says that only for the faint hum of the motor which alerted her to its presence she would have been seriously injured.

Cllr Tóibín says

“This was a really frightening experience. This young fella was absolutely flying. If it wasn’t for the bit of noise the E scooter emitted which gave me a split second to jump out of the way, he would have hit me and it would have been very serious Not only did he almost bang into me, but he also continued speeding and narrowly missed colliding with a young pedestrian and her little child.

"I was in absolute shock and the walk home was quite tricky as I was shaken.

"I have been raising the issue of E scooters and bikes on footpaths in Navan repeatedly as it is a huge public safety issue that’s putting pedestrians at real risk. So many residents in Navan have raised this issue with me in recent weeks as it’s becoming more prevalent .. This isn’t just an occasional nuisance—it’s becoming a daily danger.

"It’s bad enough for people with full mobility but I dread to think of how intimidating and off-putting it is for people with reduced mobility, like the elderly for instance.

"Urban footpaths are for pedestrians—not high-speed scooters or bikes .Where bikes and scooters are allowed, people still need to be aware of safety and their part in that. Cyclists using our footpaths should also know better. Navan has seen an extensive rollout of cycle lanes around the town with more in the pipeline. Bike users are being well accommodated so it’s not too much to ask them to actually use the facilities that have been put in place for their benefit .

"We need to call time on this poor behaviour and push for zero tolerance when it comes to reckless use of footpaths.

"Navan Gardaí have confirmed they’ve recently arrested a couple of teenagers for dangerous e-scooter use in the Ramparts and issued fines. That’s a start - and I hope it’s the beginning of more consistent enforcement.

Over the summer, Gardaí on the beat in Navan will be equipped with new bikes to help them cover more ground and tackle illegal use of footpaths more effectively and other illegal activity also

And let’s be clear-- no child under the age of 16 should be on an e-scooter.

"In Blackwater Park, e-scooters & e-bikes are not permitted. Park bye-laws provide for this law to protect pedestrians - especially children, older people, and families who use the park as a safe recreational space. I have asked the Council to erect signage outside the park entrance so that everyone is aware what is and isn't permitted within the park. If you see dangerous or illegal use of e-scooters or e-bikes in the park or elsewhere is Navan town, report it to the Gardaí or Meath County Council.

"Let’s make Navan safe once more for walkers, families, and everyone who depends on our footpaths and parks."

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