- info@mbpotch.co.za
You can usually tell when something new arrives in Potchefstroom. For the first few days, people stop and look. Some are interested. Others are irritated. Before long, it becomes part of the traffic, and that is when the habits start forming, both good and bad.
The arrival of GoNow scooters in the Bult has already created questions about road use, parking, reckless riding and who is responsible when something goes wrong. Mooirivier Beskerming is not the owner or operator of the scooter service. Our role is to track, monitor and safeguard the scooters.
However, because our officers are often the people residents see near the scooters, we are also receiving many of the complaints. Most of those complaints come down to a few avoidable decisions.
A scooter should not simply be unlocked and ridden away. Take a few seconds to look at it first. Do the brakes respond properly? Do the tyres appear secure? Are the lights working? Does anything feel loose or damaged?
If something does not feel right, do not convince yourself that it will probably be fine for a short trip. Lock it, report the problem through the appropriate channel and choose another scooter.
The same consideration applies to the rider. A helmet is sensible, even when the destination is close. A phone should be put away, alcohol and scooters should not be mixed, and one scooter should only carry one rider.
Two people standing on the same scooter may look harmless at a low speed. The problem becomes obvious when the rider has to brake suddenly, avoid a pothole or change direction.
The most difficult riders for motorists and pedestrians are not always the fastest. They are often the unpredictable ones.
A rider moves towards the pavement and then suddenly back into the road. A vehicle begins turning, and the scooter appears in its blind spot. A pedestrian steps out of a shop, and a rider passes the entrance without slowing down. In each case, nobody has enough time to understand what the other person intends to do.
Responsible riding is predictable riding. Keep a steady line, slow down before reaching people, parked vehicles, driveways and intersections, and do not weave through traffic. Never assume a driver has seen you simply because you can see the vehicle.
A pavement, shop entrance or pedestrian crossing is not an obstacle course. People may be walking with children, carrying shopping, using a wheelchair or stepping out of a doorway. They may also not hear a scooter approaching.
A rider should never pass so closely or so quickly that someone has to jump aside. Where there is uncertainty, slowing down is not an inconvenience. It is the responsible decision.
Frustration is not a safety strategy. Drivers should expect that some scooter riders may be inexperienced. They may brake too late, misjudge a gap or move unexpectedly when they become nervous.
That does not excuse poor riding, but it does mean motorists should leave enough room. Check mirrors and blind spots carefully before turning or opening a vehicle door, and do not pass closely simply to prove a point. A small mistake has very different consequences for the person inside a vehicle and the person standing on a scooter.
The trip does not end when the rider steps off. A scooter left across a walkway, driveway or entrance becomes a problem for someone else. It may obstruct a wheelchair, force a pedestrian into the road or prevent a vehicle from entering a property.
GoNow requires its scooters to be returned to designated parking zones. Park the scooter upright and leave enough room for people to move past normally.
There is currently uncertainty and disagreement around the legal treatment of e-scooters on South African public roads and pavements. That question is not for Mooirivier Beskerming to decide.
Riders should follow the latest instructions issued by GoNow, the relevant traffic and municipal authorities, and the owners of private properties. A service area displayed in an application should not be treated as permission to enter every road, pavement, campus or privately owned property within that area.
NWU has stated that GoNow scooters are not currently approved for use, testing or parking on its premises. Rules and operating areas may change, so check before riding rather than relying on something heard from another user.
A message saying, “Someone was riding badly on the Bult,” gives an investigation very little to work with. A photograph or video, together with the location, approximate time and scooter number, can help identify the scooter involved.
Reports of vandalism, reckless behaviour, deliberate damage, misuse or unlawful removal can be sent by WhatsApp to the Mooirivier Beskerming GoNow Control Room on:
076 367 5538
Where someone is injured or in immediate danger, contact emergency services first. Rental questions, payments, application problems, account enquiries and maintenance requests remain the responsibility of GoNow.
Mooirivier Beskerming did not bring the scooters to Potchefstroom. We do not rent them out, set the prices or manage the people using them. Our job is to safeguard the scooters, monitor their location and respond when there is a security-related concern.
We will also continue sharing clear information where it can prevent confusion or an avoidable incident. Not because we are promoting the service, but because Potchefstroom now has another type of road user to account for, and everyone is safer when people understand their own responsibility.