Scooters And One Wheels

Mr Loophole needs a change within the legislation to make e-scooter drivers and cyclists “extra accountable”

Known as “Mr. Loophole,” he is the prominent defense attorney known for helping David Beckham, Jeremy Clarkson and Paddy McGuinness evade law enforcement for car crime.

Nick Freeman is the point of contact for stars who got into trouble behind the wheel – his forensic knowledge of the Road Traffic Act ensures a number of high-profile legal victories.

Now the multi-million dollar lawyer is campaigning for new laws that would mean that cyclists and e-scooter drivers would have to wear “visible ID”.

Continue reading

He also wants a permit system for both modes of transport and for cyclists to be subject to the same laws as other road users.

It may raise some eyebrows, but its e-petition has already garnered nearly 4,000 signatures – and Mr Freeman from Manchester seems to be serious.

The 64-year-old says the boom in cycling triggered by the pandemic and the start of several e-scooter tests – including in Salford and Rochdale – spurred him to take action.

He is now calling for more “responsibility and accountability” – and citing concerns about road safety and criminal activities with e-scooters as a motivation for his campaign.

Manchester’s courts are among the busiest in the country, with a large number of cases heard each week.

Subscribe to our free weekly MEN Court News newsletter, compiled by our court reporters Andrew Bardsley and Amy Walker, to keep up with the latest on how justice is served in Greater Manchester.

How do I sign up?

  1. First click on this link to our newsletter registration center.
  2. Once there, enter your email address above and check the MEN Court News box. Other newsletters are also available if you wish.
  3. Once you’ve made your choices, click the Save Changes button below.

“This is not about a war between drivers and others, but about a law for everyone – to improve safety for everyone and to create a harmonious common street space,” says Mr. Freeman.

“There are a lot of responsible cyclists, but there are still too many who ride with little respect for the road rules.

“In contrast to motorists, for example, there is no legal obligation to identify yourself, so anonymity was and is a gift for those who ride a bicycle with impunity.”

He adds: “The same applies to those who use e-scooters – especially since only e-scooters that are allowed to be used on public roads are rented as part of state-sponsored experiments.”

The 40-year-old lawyer would like a change in the law so that both types of drivers have to show identification.

Mr. Freeman with client Paddy McGuinness in 2017.

He suggests wearing a “numbered tabard” that refers to the rider, not the bike or e-scooter.

“This is how lawbreakers can be held accountable,” he says.

Mr Freeman claims the aim of his petition is to make the roads safer for everyone – but cyclists and e-scooter drivers should be “legally equated with motorists”.

“Until laws are in place for cyclists and e-scooter riders, their anonymity will trump their accountability,” he adds.

The father of two hopes the petition will force parliament to debate the matter – resulting in legislative changes that “make the streets safer for us all”.

But why should the vast majority of serious road accidents involving motorists be focused on vulnerable road users such as cyclists and e-scooter drivers?

“There are more cars on the road. They cause more accidents and are undoubtedly much better protected, ”says Mr. Freeman.

Citing figures showing that cyclists are 15 times more likely to be killed on UK roads than motorists, he adds that he has “deep reservations” about the safety of e-scooters.

A lime e-scooter.

“Cyclists are extremely at risk, as are e-scooter drivers,” he says.

“And because of their vulnerability and because statistics are increasingly showing that they are involved in accidents, I suggest that we have this regulatory system.”

E-scooter champions say they reduce traffic jams, help people get between public transportation hubs, and improve air pollution.

Mr. Freeman accepts that they have “many advantages” but while they are subject to the same laws as motorists, enforcement is next to impossible without a means of identifying the driver.

“We have to know who is on them at all times. What’s the point of saying we have enforcement laws – speed limit laws, drink driving laws – if you don’t know who you’re dealing with. “

Under the tabard system, he suggests that drivers who are reported for a criminal offense receive a legal notice, just like motorists who skip or skip a red light.

“That’s my main criticism of e-scooters,” he says. “From an environmental point of view, they have enormous advantages, but the design is inherently dangerous.”

One of his concerns is that e-scooter wheels are “too small” and drivers often have to rely on hand signals to indicate.

Drivers are not used to dealing with e-scooters on the street and e-scooter drivers are not used to dealing with traffic on the street, ”he says.

“There will be a bloodbath unless the government gets hold of it and uses it proportionately and responsibly.”

The situation is “more problematic” for cyclists.

He says current legislation is insufficient as cyclists cannot be penalized or banned and are not subject to the same laws.

Mr Freeman cites the case of cyclist Charlie Alliston, who was sentenced to 18 months in prison for “premeditated or furious driving” after knocking over and killing 44-year-old Kim Briggs in east London four years ago.

“There has to be a set of rules for everyone: cyclists, e-scooter drivers and cars,” he says.

“Right now there are no speed limits for cyclists – you can have cars go at 20 mph and cars go at 60 mph.

“There are cyclists who ride the sidewalk, go through red lights and never get held accountable because there is no way to find out who it is.

“They aren’t telling me that cyclists don’t commit thousands of violations every day, some of which are very aggressive and violate the law.

Mr Freeman – says the legislation “has to have some teeth” and describes the Road Traffic Act as an “anachronism” that needs updating.

“We have to have a law that we can enforce, otherwise it’s just a pointless exercise – the law is superfluous,” he says.

But aside from the legal arguments and the road safety debate, how realistic is that?

Isn’t there a need for a huge database, similar to that for vehicles and drivers of the DVLA?

“It would be exactly the same as the DVLA,” says Mr. Freeman.

“Anyone who uses a bicycle would have to wear a reflective vest that could be traced back to whoever was using it – so it relates to the person who rides it, not the vehicle. I don’t know where we would put a license plate on a bike or an e-scooter. “

Andy Flintoff with “Mr Loophole” Nick Freeman

But who pays for it?

“I think cyclists should contribute to the cost,” says Mr. Freeman.

“There is no free lunch. There has been massive investment in cycle paths that are used by e-scooters and cyclists, what is the problem with making a contribution? “

And while more children cycling to school will certainly reduce rush hour traffic jams – and therefore motorists’ frustration – Mr Freeman would like to see those under 16s excluded from the streets.

He believes it is irresponsible that parents allow a twelve-year-old to ride a bike on the way to school – although bike paths are “another matter”.

“In my opinion, the street is too dangerous for children,” he says. “It was different when we were children – and back then it was still dangerous.”

Nick Freeman – called Mr. Loophole – worked for Premier League footballer Jermain Defoe.

“How can you go out on the street with a bicycle without having to prove that the bicycle is in a roadworthy condition and without having an idea of ​​the traffic regulations and the law.

He adds, “I know there are great advantages, but it’s too dangerous. We need enormous investments in infrastructure. “

His petition also calls for cycling lanes to be made compulsory for cyclists, removing the right for cyclists to use the road on which there is a cycle lane on the same route.

believes that the number of accidents involving cyclists would drop dramatically if they had registered user numbers.

“There’s a problem with cyclists doing what they want every day. It has to stop. “

He believes that the failure to reform the Highway Code will lead to “a terrible increase in accidents with serious and worse injuries”.

“We can’t let that happen,” he says.

Mr Freeman claims he has the support of both motorists and cyclists – and can’t see why anyone would reject a petition aimed at “making the roads safer”.

“How can it get any more dangerous in any way?” He says.

“What I propose cannot make it more dangerous, it can only increase safety

“Are people hesitant to change or do they want a free lunch with no responsibility or accountability? I suspect the latter and you have to change your mind. “

Lime, who conducts the e-scooter tests in Rochdale and Salford and Transport for Greater Manchester, declined to comment.

Walk-Ride Greater Manchester was asked for a comment.

Continue reading
Continue reading

Related Articles