E-scooters have been arriving in Bucks since late last year – and the reaction to them has been mixed.

New, state-of-the-art electric scooters have been spotted across the county in recent months, with Buckinghamshire Council looking to extend the scheme to different areas.

Unlike private e-scooters, the rental vehicles, by Zipp Mobility, can legally be used on public roads and in cycle lanes.

Anyone caught using a privately owned e-scooter on a public road is committing a crime and can be prosecuted, Transport for Bucks and Thames Valley Police have warned.

But the rental scheme by Bucks Council has been branded “barmy and dangerous” by BFP readers, with many saying the scheme should not be allowed.

In a letter to the BFP, an anonymous reader wrote: “Umpteen accidents have been reported nationally and some were fatal.

“Inconsiderate riders are becoming a menace on roads and pavements, ignoring the law.”

They added: “They weave through road traffic and endanger pedestrians on paths. They can reach almost 30mph.”

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And another reader, D Nelson, from High Wycombe, said: “Riding privately owned e-scooters on public roads, pavements or cycle lanes in England is rightly illegal for reasons too obvious to state.

“They are classified legally as ‘personal light electric vehicles’.

“Why then does Bucks Council think offering such a vehicle for public rental is a good idea?”

Dozens of you shared your thoughts on the scheme on the Bucks Free Press’ Facebook page, with Robyn Connelly Smith commenting: “I don’t know if this has directly caused the increase of wheeled modes of transport, both motorised and otherwise, in pedestrianised areas, but since they’ve been around, I’ve noticed a significant increase of such.

“It’s getting quite scary dodging adults on scooters, bicycles, roller skates, skateboards – there was some guy on a motorised skateboard tearing through the Eden centre today dodging small children.

“And this despite most of them being completely illegal; that doesn’t seem to put them off. It’s a matter of time before there is a horrific accident involving someone innocently walking in a place which should only be for pedestrians.”

And Richard Conlon said: “Certainly don't allow them on pathways. Already a lot of ‘competition’ for space on pathways, before the introduction of scooter hire”, while Nigel Vickery wrote: “Get the damn things off the road.”

But many readers also thought they were a good addition to the county, with Richard Duell writing: “Nothing wrong with them, stop the e-scooter bashing”, and Stacey Coburn commenting: “I think it’s a good thing for people to get around on and [are] environmentally friendly.”

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David Ryan suggested making “proper cycle/scooter lanes” to avoid “a lot of these issues”, while Guy Tillier added: “I like the concept of them, but they need to be policed better.

“At present they are very dangerous and a menace. An accident waiting to happen.”

One reader commented online: “They are a menace”, while another wrote: “It's going to happen at some point. Embrace it.”

They added: “They are a great way to get around. You just concentrate on the negatives. There are bad drivers, bad motorcyclists and bad cyclists.

“There also plenty of good ones and, when used to it, people will realise what a great environmentally friendly form of transport it is.”