Bird, a leader in environmentally friendly electric transportation, and the Irish School of Excellence (ISOE) today announced the launch of Ireland’s first e-scooter safety course. The first-of-its-kind programme in Ireland is designed to educate transition year, Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA), Youthreach and after school students on safe and responsible riding practises for the use of shared e-scooters.
The ISOE is Ireland’s largest driver education programme, working with over 570 secondary schools nationwide. Covering almost 80% of schools nationally, the ISOE and Bird will roll out Ireland’s first e-scooter safety course as soon as legislation governing their use is passed. The as the Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2021 makes it way through the Oireachtas to allow for e-scooters on Irish roads, and ahead of Councils throughout Ireland beginning licensing processes this year.
Once e-scooters are legalised in Ireland, Bird’s ‘E-scooter Safety Course,’ module will serve as part of the Irish School of Excellence’s existing ‘Driver Education Course’. The course is used to encourage young people to adopt a safety-led approach to driving, and is available to Leaving Cert pupils preparing to take driving lessons, as cars and micro mobility devices increasingly share the road. The pioneering ‘E-scooter Safety Module’ will provide pupils with an overview of the law governing e-scooters; a guide on how to ensure pedestrian safety while using e-scooters; tuition on starting and moving off safely, as well as a tutorial on how to park safely.
Kieran O’Brien, CEO and founder of Irish School of Excellence said: “As our transport network evolves to embrace more sustainable travel options such as shared e-scooter schemes, so too should driving education. It has been heartening to witness first hand Bird’s proactivity in this space. Together we have devised a course that will equip young people across Ireland with the education necessary to use e-scooters safely on Irish roads.”
Charlotte Bailey, General Manager for UK and Ireland at Bird said: “Safety is of paramount importance to Bird. As Ireland prepares to embrace shared e-scooter schemes, it is essential that the public is educated on how to use e-scooters safely. Bird is proud to work with Irish School of Excellence, an organisation with enormous reach, to spearhead Ireland’s first e-scooter safety course. At Bird, we enforce an age limit of 18 years across our platform but believe it is important to begin instilling e-scooter safety early to ensure the next generation ride responsibly.”