New inquiry into the anti-social use of e-bikes and e-scooters in Scotland
The Scottish Parliament's new inquiry into the anti-social use of e-bikes and e-scooters is welcome. But tackling this growing problem will require better reporting, stronger enforcement and greater confidence that public concerns are being heard and addressed.
E-bikes and e-scooters have the potential to play a role in helping make travel cheaper, cleaner and more convenient. But their misuse by a minority of individuals is becoming a serious concern for communities across Scotland and the wider UK.
From dangerous riding on pavements and in pedestrian areas through to intimidation, harassment and vehicles modified to travel at excessive speeds, the consequences can be significant. Residents should not feel frightened to walk through their neighbourhoods, use local parks or visit their local high streets.
That is why it is welcome to see the Scottish Parliament's Criminal Justice Committee launch a new inquiry (opens external site) into anti-social behaviour involving e-bikes and e-scooters.
The Committee will examine the scale of the problem, existing enforcement powers and what more can be done to prevent anti-social behaviour.
A growing problem that demands action
The figures underline the challenge. Police Scotland reportedly seized more than 1,000 e-bikes and e-scooters during 2026, compared with 569 throughout 2025.
As Edinburgh MSP Ben Macpherson has highlighted (opens external site), the behaviour of a minority of riders is having a damaging impact on local communities.
Public opinion suggests widespread concern. Ipsos polling published in May 2025 (opens external site) found that 61% of British adults believed e-scooters negatively affected pedestrian safety, rising to 81% among those aged 55–75.
In October, Julie MacDougall MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife recently cited a constituent's experience:
[They were] nearly a victim of a fatal crash, because of youths speeding around on e-scooters at the local retail park.
It is increasingly clear that there is a need to properly tackle anti-social use of e-bikes and e-scooters.
Making it easier for communities to speak up
In September, Bathgate MSP Pauline Stafford called for a dedicated anonymous reporting portal (opens external site), warning that weak enforcement was discouraging residents from reporting incidents.
In an October parliamentary answer (opens external site), the Scottish Government pointed to existing Police Scotland and Crimestoppers reporting routes, while acknowledging that a dedicated portal would be a matter for Police Scotland.
But reporting should not simply be about recording individual incidents. It should help reveal recurring problems, identify hotspots and demonstrate the impact on communities.
How FixASB can help
At FixASB, we believe better information can support better decisions and more effective action.
Our public reporting platform allows residents to highlight anti-social behaviour in public spaces, identify affected locations and provide supporting information.
By bringing local reports together on a map, FixASB can help communities recognise recurring problems, corroborate concerns and build a clearer picture of where intervention may be needed.
This could be particularly valuable where dangerous riding repeatedly affects parks, footpaths, shopping streets or transport hubs.
FixASB is not a substitute for reporting crime to the police, but provides a complementary way to document wider community concerns and make persistent problems more visible.
Modes of transport and technology may be changing, but our commitment to safe and welcoming public spaces should not.
If anti-social use of e-bikes or e-scooters is affecting your neighbourhood, you can share your experience at FixASB.co.uk.
Together, we can help turn local concerns into evidence for action.