INCONSIDERATE e-scooter users riding on pavements in Colchester have been accused of putting pedestrians at “serious risk” by flouting rules.

TIER e-scooters have been available to hire in the city since the summer following the company’s acquisition of SPIN, which previously run the service.

The green two-wheelers, which are on trial until November, must not be ridden on footpaths or pavements and can only be used on public land in Essex.

They are allowed to be ridden on cycle paths. 

Despite this, some people say they are seeing an increasing number of riders mounting pavements throughout the city and whizzing along at speed.

One vigilant resident, who has now taken to photographing those using the TIER e-scooters illegally for evidence, is fed-up 70-year-old Colcestrian Graham.

In photos he has sent to the Gazette, some of the e-scooter riders can be seen travelling along pavements in Ipswich Road, East Hill and Cowdray Avenue.

He said: “The big bee in my bonnet is really around the use of e-scooters.

“For every one I see being ridden correctly on the road there has been ten or more on pavements, not on cycle paths.

“The odd rider I have spoken to seems to think it is OK, yet they are often travelling between 10 and 15 mph, and on busy or narrow paths.

“They present a serious risk to pedestrians, particularly buggy-pushers and elderly people. What are the police doing about this and how can it be combated?”

Georgia Yexley, general manager for TIER UK and Ireland stressed pavements are exclusively for pedestrians. 

"We work to discourage our users from pavement riding through in-app training modules which must be completed before renting an e-scooter," she added.

"We have worked with an external consultancy to explore why people ride e-scooter on pavements and the primary reason is due to riders feeling unsafe sharing road space with cars. 

"We need to challenge the idea pavement riding is socially acceptable.

"We are proud to play our part in preventing pavement riding and are trialling smart pavement-detection technologies."

Bosses at Essex Police has now issued a warning to e-scooters riders who fail to adhere to the rules of the road. 

A spokesman for the police said: "Anyone riding a trial e-scooter must adhere to the conditions of use set out by the hire company, stick to the designated areas and adhere to the highway code.

"Any rider who does not comply with these conditions will be stopped and can expect to receive a fixed penalty notice and potentially seizure of the e-scooter."