It’s pretty clear that sales of electric scooters are on a rapid rise at the moment.
The two-wheeled, motor-powered contraptions provide a tempting alternative to cars and other vehicles for many people, especially city centre commuters, as they’re cheaper to run, easier to park, and will likely only set you back anywhere from just over £100, to more than £1000.
According to Which?, Halfords – the UK’s leading provider of motoring and cycling products and services, which sells a selection of electric scooters from popular brands including Xiaomi and Segway – said it has seen a 184% increase in sales year on year in November 2020 for e-mobility products.
An earlier study by the retailer, which polled 2,000 UK adults, found that 16% of respondents claim to own an electric scooter, and 28% would also consider swapping their car for an e-scooter to “benefit the environment”.
These statistics all point to the demand for e-scooters being there, and that those in the market for one won’t have much trouble sourcing a reputable retailer these days either.
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Finding a place to ride your new purchase without breaking the law might be, though.
It seems like every other week or so that a fresh story of someone illegally riding an e-scooter hits the headlines, with many coming up against driving bans, hefty fines, and even jail time in the worst case scenarios.
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Just last week, a 34-year-old Bolton man, Kyle Lowthian, was sentenced given 10 months in prison – suspended for two years, during which he will have to participate in a thinking skills programme and three days of rehabilitation activities – after being spotted by police using an e-scooter one year after a driving ban.
Mr Lowthian’s case resembles numerous others occurring right across the UK, but it isn’t the same for all areas of our region.
As part of a 12-month trial introduced at the start of July 2020 to assess whether the devices reduce motor traffic and what impact they have on the safety of users and those around them, a number of rental e-scooter schemes are currently taking place in Greater Manchester – which permits them to be used on certain public roads and settings at a maximum of 15.5mph – but outside of this, some pretty serious rules do apply.
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But what are they?
Here’s everything you need to know about e-scooters.
The only place an e-scooter can be used is on private land, with the permission of the landowner.
They cannot be ridden on a UK public road, cycle lane or pavement.
Whether you realise it or not, e-scooters are actually classed as motor vehicles, which therefore means that the rules that apply to motor vehicles also apply to e-scooters, including being in possession of a full UK driving license – not an overseas provisional licence, learner permit or equivalent – insurance, and the need to be taxed.
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If you’re caught riding an e-scooter without the proper insurance, you could receive an on-the-spot fine of £300 and six penalty points, and when it comes to being without a driving license, you could also be given a Fixed Penalty Notice with an up to £100 fine and three-six penalty points.
Police will also take action against rider behaviour, whether private or rental.
Offences could include:
Riding on the footway – Fixed Penalty Notice and possible £50 fine.
Using a mobile phone – £100 and six penalty points.
Riding through red lights – Fixed Penalty Notice, £100 fine and possible penalty points.
Drink driving offences – As with driving cars; court imposed fines, driving ban and possible imprisonment.
While it’s recommended that you wear a helmet, you are not legally required to do so, and unlike motor vehicles, e-scooters don’t need to have a registration plate.
Where are e-scooter trials currently taking place?
A number of e-scooter trials are currently taking place in towns and cities across the UK, with the devices only permitted to be used within the local area that is hosting the trial, and riders participating in the trials needing a full or provisional car, motorcycle or moped licence, must be aged at least 16, and urged to wear a helmet.
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In Greater Manchester, trials began in the boroughs of Salford and Rochdale in February.
30 other towns and cities across the UK have begun trials since July 2020, including the fellow major northern hubs of Cheshire West and Chester, Liverpool, Newcastle, York and more.
— Transport for Greater Manchester 🚲🚶🏾♀️ (@OfficialTfGM) October 26, 2020
Where can I rent an e-scooter in Greater Manchester?
As previously mentioned, e-scooter trials are currently taking place in the Greater Manchester boroughs of Rochdale and Salford, and in both locations, the leading e-scooter company Lime Scooters are responsible for rentals.
You will need to download the Lime Scooter app to use the devices.
Once you have downloaded the app, you can then see where the e-scooters are currently located – shown on the app with a scooter symbol – and also discover locations for parking your scooter when you’re done, shown on the map with a ‘P’ symbol.
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All you’ll need to do is follow the instructions on the app to find out how to use and drop off a scooter when you’re done.
Find out more information about e-scooter rentals in Greater Manchester here.
Featured Image – Lime Scooters
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The full list of Greater Manchester Olympians representing Team GB at Paris 2024
Danny Jones
The Paris Olympics are nearly here and this year Greater Manchester happens to have eight athletes competing at the 2024 Summer Games.
It just so happens that eight is also the exact same number of local Olympians who brought home medals from Tokyo 2020, and we’re hoping these lot will help Team GB bring back a record number, with the previous competition seeing them match their all-time record (65) set at London 2012.
Honestly, there are few times in the year that we love as much as when the summer of sport fully kicks in and with the heartbreak of the Euros finally starting to drift, we can fully throw ourselves into the Olympics and get behind our Mancs flying the flag for 0161.
But who exactly is representing Greater Manchester at Paris 2024 and what events are they competing in? Look no further.
Greater Manchester’s 2024 Team GB athletes and their sports
Without further ado, let’s meet our local Olympic heroes:
Keely Hodgkinson – Wigan – Athletics
Starting out over in the home of the Latics, pie barms and The Verve, we have Wigan‘s very own Keely Hodgkinson: a two-time European champion who also recently broke the all-time British record in the 800m at the Diamond League in London on 20 July.
Born in Atherton, the 22-year-old middle-distance runner’s career is already off to a flyer and having already picked up the silver in her event at the last Olympics at just 19, we have every faith she’ll be bringing home the gold this time.
Aimee Pratt – Stockport – Athletics
Over to Stockport (don’t start with that Cheshire nonsense today, just be proud she’s from around here) and our 3000m steeplechase specialist, who already broke the national record twice in 2022 and produced the UK’s best-ever finish (7th) in the women’s event at the World Athletics Championships.
A long-standing member of Sale Harriers running club and a University of Manchester graduate, Aimee Pratt, 26, has got so much local backing behind her and has quickly gone from rising star to very much looking like she’s going to live up to the expectations of becoming ‘world-class’ as coaches predicted.
The third and final Manc representing us in athletics events is Bury-born and bred Hannah Kelly, 23, who is also a member of nearby Bolton United Harriers.
She was part of the crack team at the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow that helped Great Britain reach a women’s 4x400m national record, picking up the bronze medal and will no doubt be looking to go on further in her Olympic debut.
Now into the world of combat sport and the incredible story of Trafford boxer Pat Brown’s journey to Paris 2024 who beat Poland’s Mateusz Bereznicki in a qualifier back in March and now finds himself heading to his first-ever appearance at the Olympics.
Coming through the ranks at his local clubs Moss Side Fire Station and Sale West ABC, the 24-year-old has gone through his fair share of challenges of late, losing his best friend and cousin shortly after sealing his place at the Games but now has more spirit and motivation behind him than ever.
Moving over to the world of cycling and there’s just one local name taking part in two-wheeled events this year: 28-year-old sensation, Charlotte Worthington, from just down the road in Chorlton.
One of the select few Team GB athletes who managed to pick up an Olympic gold at Tokyo 2020, the BMX star is not only ready to defend her title – becoming the first women’s champion freestyle park champion in history – but is looking to come back stronger than ever after some time out.
Insane stuff.
Anthony Harding – Ashton-under-Lyne – Diving
On to those wading through Paris waters in the name of Manchester, the first of two aquatic athletes competing at this year’s tournament is Antony Harding from Ashton-under-Lyne in Tameside.
Joining forces will Britain’s first-ever Olympic diving champion, Jack Laugher (who won the gold at Rio 2016), the duo have already brought home Commonwealth and European gold in the 3m synchro, as well as a pair of World Championship silver medals in the last two years. Is 2024 set for more gold?
And completing the water-bound Team GB athletes hailing from 0161 is multiple-gold medal-winner James Guy who, to use a phrase the kids are using, really is ‘that guy‘.
Another Bury native, the 27-year-old swimmer already has a big collection of gold medals in both the 200m and 4x200m freestyle at the Worlds, as well as silvers across multiple events over the past few years. With five Olympic medals in total to date, we’re desperate for him to add a gold to that list.
Georgia Taylor-Brown – Droyslden – Triathlon
Last but certainly not least is Droyslden’s Georgia Taylor-Brown, who was born to be an Olympian after her mum and Dad swam and ran, respectively, but continues to chase her own story of greatness, having picked up silver on her Olympics debut at Tokyo 2020 – even whilst nursing an injury.
With two golds at the 2019 World Triathlon Mixed Relay Series and AJ Bell World Triathlon in Leeds as well, we already know the colour looks good on her. You can listen to her full interview about going for gold yet again on BBC Sounds HERE but, for now, we’ll admit that her talking about coping with missing her dog come race time has made us love her even more:
Passport ✅ Hotel ✅ Alfie the cavapoo 🥰@TeamGB triathlete Georgia Taylor-Brown from Droylsden on what she can't live without at the Olympics.
Fingers crossed out Greater Manchester Olympians will absolutely smash it at Paris 2024 and regardless of how many medals they come home with, we already know they’ll give it their all.
No matter what, they’ll be welcomed back with a lovely homecoming party over at the AO Arena and we already have a great place to watch the events too.
Best of luck to our Mancs and all of Team GB – now go and do us proud!
Beloved Manc butty shop Bada Bing set for a sensational return to the city centre
Danny Jones
Sandwich lovers rejoice because one of the finest butty shops to ever grace Manchester is returning: that’s right, Bada Bing is bada-back!
The Sopranos-inspired deli and sandwich shop that took its name from one of the central locations featured in the iconic US drama (yes, the strip club), was a huge success when it first opened in Manchester a few short years ago, so it was a huge blow when it closed in February 2022.
Starting out by serving sandwiches out of a window at The B Lounge pub on Paton Street near Piccadilly, before moving to a small kitchen on Radium Street and eventually setting up their stall inside Ancoats General Store, they would regularly have lines around the block every lunchtime.
These Italian-American sarnies were so popular you’d often struggle to get your claws on one – and believe us, they really are a two-handed task – as they’d sell out on what felt like most days. But now, whether you were a regular or someone who missed out, there is hope once again:
Announcing their sensational return to a new site over in the Northern Quarter, which will now mark the fourth premises they’ve popped up at, Bada Bing is back with a bang and, as you can, they dropped the news with one of the best reveal videos we’ve ever seen.
If you know, you know…
Set to take over 125 Oldham Street, owners Sam Gormally and Meg Lingenfelter haven’t yet graced us with an opening date but the new unit should hopefully be open sooner rather than later.
The duo, who previously worked at fellow NQ favourite Another Heart to Feed, came up with the concept during lockdown and it didn’t take long for the idea to take off, nor for them to earn their spot amongst the very best sandwich places in Manchester.
Seriously, these things were so big and unwieldy (in the best way possible) that they even used to come with eating instructions: both hands and the trademark Tony Soprano hunch recommended, though the slightly stained wife-beater, boxer shorts and open dressing gown look is optional.
From slices of provolone cheese, all the thinly sliced Italian meats you could think of and the closest thing to actual ‘gabagool‘ as you’ll find in Greater Manchester, the menu was fitting of being served up to the iconic characters that once sat outside Satriale’s and a big approving grin from the man himself.
Simply put, we cannot wait and we will certainly keep you posted when we find out exactly when Bada Bing confirms their official reopening date.