People in Cork are 'frightened and intimidated' by e-scooters and scramblers

People in Cork city are frightened and intimidated by scrambler bikes and e-scooters which are endangering lives in many residential areas, a city council meeting has heard.

Gardaí have seized 55 scramblers and 49 e-scooters in Cork city since 2023.

However, on Monday, Cork city councillors expressed concern that the figures do not represent the full scale of the problem.

They expressed fears that gardaí have insufficient resources to enforce current legislation, and will face the same issue with the new legislation.

Recently, the Government introduced a new ban on the use of scramblers on public roads, following the death of 16-year-old Grace Lynch in Dublin.

Figures provided by Cork-based Garda Superintendent John Deasy at a recent local community safety partnership meeting revealed that gardaí seized 17 scramblers in Cork in 2023.

The totals seized in previous years were 19 in 2024; 18 in 2025; and one in 2026 to date.

Four e-scooters were seized in 2023, 15 in 2024, 24 in 2025, and six so far this year.

A total of 14 e-bikes were also seized during the same time period — four in 2024, nine in 2025, and one in 2026 to date.

The figures were provided to Sinn Féin councillor Joe Lynch, who told The Echo: “I have been inundated with calls recently — since Christmas in particular — about the dangerous use of scramblers and e-scooters in housing estates and on main roads in Ballincollig.

“Those involved in antisocial behaviour using these machines are a danger to themselves and others, as illustrated by the tragic loss of life of a young woman in Dublin recently.”

He said that he has raised the matter with gardaí.

“I know they are taking the issue seriously, but we need to see more action, with gardaí using their powers of seizure to take these dangerous machines off our streets in far greater numbers.”

The topic was raised at Monday’s Cork City Council meeting, where Mr Lynch said that people feel “frightened and intimidated”.

He was responding to a motion by Independent councillor Kieran McCarthy who had proposed that the council write to the Taoiseach calling for tighter restrictions on the use of scramblers.

AMENDMENT

Labour councillor Peter Horgan proposed an amendment, which was agreed, that the council should also write to the Garda Commissioner.

Sinn Féin’s Kenneth Collins added that a woman was knocked down by an e-scooter on Fairfield recently. “We need this sorted ASAP, or someone will be killed,” he said.

Fianna Fáil councillor Fergal Dennehy, Lord Mayor of Cork, said these vehicles were also causing problems on Anglesea St in the city.

“It’s not just in the suburbs, it’s happening outside our door here in City Hall,” he said. “But gardaí are very restricted in how they can stop them without endangering lives.”