In a rather peculiar scene, cars were spotted driving in the opposite direction of an unusual sight: two youths riding scooters while perched comfortably on a sofa. This incident took place on Maribyrnong Avenue in Kaleen around 9 p.m. last night, as reported by ACT Police to nine.com.au.
Maribyrnong Avenue is a busy thoroughfare, well-known for its 60 km/h speed limit, which makes this spectacle even more concerning. A spokesperson for ACT Police expressed their worry over such reckless behavior, emphasizing the heightened risk involved. “Police are concerned with e-scooter riders who are putting themselves and others at risk with dangerous behavior,” they stated.
The spokesperson further highlighted the vulnerability of e-bike and e-scooter riders, explaining that they face a higher likelihood of serious injury or even death if involved in a collision. Meanwhile, footage from a car trailing the sofa shows the speedometer maintaining a speed of around 28 km/h, illustrating the potential dangers of this stunt.
“Police are concerned with e-scooter riders who are putting themselves and others at risk with dangerous behaviour,” an ACT Police spokesperson said.
“E-bike and e-scooter riders are vulnerable road users, they are at a higher risk of serious injury or death in the event of a collision.”
The speed shown on the odometer of the car that’s filming trailing behind the couch posts a speed hovering around 28km/h.
The couch riders do not appear to be wearing helmets and no reflectors or rear lights are attached to them or the couch.
The video was uploaded to a local Canberra group on Facebook last night by an anonymous poster, who said they had just seen the boys on Maribyrnong Avenue.
While some locals who commented on the video saw the funny side of the act, others were concerned for the couch riders’ safety and that of fellow road users.
Escooters are legal in Canberra for riders over the age of 12, but only on footpaths, bicycle paths and residential streets where there are no footpaths.
Safety precautions such as helmets and appropriate lights and reflectors are mandatory and passengers not are permitted.
Police have asked anyone with information about the e-scooter sofa riders to contact Crime Stoppers via the Crime Stoppers ACT website.
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