Coventry city centre e-bike and e-scooter rules to come into force

E-bike and e-scooter riders will face fines or prosecution if they don't dismount in a city's pedestrian areas.

From 20 November, people who do not wheel machines on specific Coventry streets face action under the Public Spaces Protection Order.

The ban will cover Upper Precinct, Hertford Street, Broadgate Square, most of Lower Precinct and Market Way.

The city council's cabinet signed off the proposal on Tuesday after concerns about people riding "too fast".

Councillor Abdul Khan, cabinet member for policing and equalities, told the meeting the way some people rode "made pedestrians scared for themselves and scared for the safety of their children".

"In respect to all of these forms of transport, we're asking or advising everybody to use them in a manner which does not cause other pedestrians in the centre to be afraid," he said.

It is currently illegal for personally-owned e-scooters to be used on public roads, whereas e-bikes can be used if they are under a certain speed limit.

People who use either an e-bike or and e-scooter as a mobility aid are exempt from the ban and the rule does not apply to mobility scooters.

Signs for where the ban is in force will be displayed at pinch points, as well as areas where cyclists park, and the council will be contacting delivery people.

Councillors also agreed to write to the chief constable and the police and crime commissioner to ask for an increased police presence in the city centre.