Micro Scooter ban considered

By BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat correspondent Lindley Gooden

They are small, light, made of aircraft-grade aluminium, can reach speeds of around 25 miles per hour, and have become the big travel trend of the summer.

But one London council is considering whether Micro Scooters should be banned from pavements within the Square Mile.

The Corporation of London's legal department may extend bylaws within the capital's financial district, covering pavements and other pedestrian areas, following fears that the silver toys could become a major nuisance.

Most of the UK's Micro Scooters can be found in London

Cities like Glasgow, Cardiff and Birmingham are selling thousands of people-powered and motorised scooters every week.

Jim Fencham runs 'Warped', an urban sports shop in Birmingham city centre. He says: "They're this summer's real phenomenon. I think the reason they've been so popular is because they're actually very good.

"They're great fun, they're really easy to handle, you can ride them pretty much anywhere, and I think that's really appealed to people - anyone from five-year-old kids up to people coming out of insurance offices at lunchtime."

More than 8,000 Micro Scooters are pouring onto pavements every week, and 60% go to London, where they have become a fashion and travel essential.

Stars including Kylie Minogue and Robbie Williams have also been seen zipping around on theirs.

Kylie Minogue: Said to be a scooter fan

But the Corporation of London is worried there will soon be too many on walkways, as office workers and stockbrokers in suits scoot their way to work.

It will not comment on the problem at the moment, or whether it could spread to other areas.

But Radio 1 presenter Scott Mills ran a survey on the Early Breakfast Show.

Pavement pest

He says: "They may be cool because a few pop stars have them, but the opinion of loads of Radio 1 listeners was that they're over-priced: 100 quid or more for what is only a small lightning conductor, and a fashion fad that'll be gone within a year.

"At that point you'll be too embarrassed to go out on it anymore, and it'll be sat in the garage for the rest of its life."

And he is not alone.

"Motorised scooters shouldn't be on the pavement at all," says Ben Plowden from the Pedestrians Association.

"Fold-up person-driven scooters are also potentially a problem if you've got any visual problems, or if you're with small children."