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Tier has launched an Ireland Safety Board, aiming to raise safety standards in the Irish e-scooter market ahead of the Government’s plans to legalise the vehicles.
Representatives from the Disability Federation of Ireland (DFI) and the National Council for the Blind of Ireland (NCBI) are among the senior independent experts in road safety, accessibility and visual impairment who will be represented on the board, which will hold its first meeting in May.
The board, which will be chaired by Tier’s regional general manager for Northern Europe Fred Jones, will meet quarterly to scrutinise Tier’s approach to safety and responsible operations.
Alongside this, the board will explore best safety practices from other sectors, and advocate for new, industry-wide safety measures to ensure that e-scooters are incorporated into Ireland’s transport mix smoothly and safely.
The announcement follows news that Tier will be collaborating with Smart Dublin, Luna Systems, and Insight DCU on the first e-scooter trial in Ireland, serving Dublin City University’s five campuses across North Dublin initially and then, as legislation allows, connecting those campuses.
Sitting on the board will be:
– John Dolan, CEO of Disability Federation of Ireland and former senator
– Chantelle Smith, certified orientation and mobility specialist, NCBI
– Bob Gilbert, chair of Transport Working Group, Age Friendly Ireland
– Bronwen Thornton, CEO of Walk21 Foundation
“It’s incredibly exciting to see the Irish Government preparing to legalise e-scooters on roads,” said Jones. “Tier’s Ireland Safety Board will work to play a key role in shaping safety practices in the Irish market as it grows.
“To make a success of e-scooters in Ireland, the industry must listen to the concerns and advice of a range of different groups, road users and communities across the country. We look forward to working with the Board and supporting the Government and cities in the coming months.”
Smith added: “NCBI are pleased to be part of Tier’s Ireland Safety Board and welcome its commitment to listening to the voice of people who are blind and vision-impaired and other vulnerable pedestrians who have concerns about e-scooters.
“We hope this will be a valuable contribution to the national debate about micromobility and making streets safe for all.”
