Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1389773
4 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 4 JULY 2021 NEWS Scooters create parking nuisance on walkways KARL AZZOPARDI BOLT Malta has said that it will look to address complaints on the irregular parking of its electric rental scooters on pub- lic walkways and pavements. "Bolt is taking all complaints related to any of our services seriously. Each received com- plaint is being tackled separate- ly," it said. Over the last two weeks, many have taken to social media to complain on the manner in which the electric scooters are haphazardly parked across the island. Social media users posted photos of the scooters ob- structing pavements, roads and even garage entrances. People looking to rent the electric scooters can do so by locating one on the Bolt app, and unlocking it by scanning a QR code. Once users are fin- ished from using the service, they can park the scooter and leave. Asked whether Bolt should provide users with racks for the scooters to be parked in, the company said it is doing its best to inform users on the correct use of the scooters. "We are do- ing the best we can to avoid any inconveniences to people and to inform the general public of the correct use of e-scooters and the local regulations," it said. "This includes an integrated system to report any nuisance related to our e-scooters, a vid- eo campaign that explains the best way to avoid disturbanc- es to other people when using Bolt's e-scooters, and various blog articles on our homepage." The company is also work- ing with local authorities and councils to resolve any issues and provide the best possible service. "Where issues are being re- ported to us, we are more than happy to remove the nuisance or help with resolving the oc- curred issues, however, it is of utmost importance that riders responsibly comply with any regulations and rules when us- ing e-scooters," it said. According to micro-mobil- ity legislation, "electric kick scooters may be parked on pavements and promenades or on footpaths and in pedestrian zones but not in such a manner as to obstruct the free flow of pedestrian traffic." "In such roads where there are no spaces specifically desig- nated and marked for such pur- pose, e-kickscooters may be parked on the road in a perpen- dicular position to the pave- ment but not in such a manner as to occupy a parking space which is specifically designated and marked for the parking of other types of vehicles." Under current legislation, e-scooter users must also reg- ister and licence their vehicle with Transport Malta, against the payment of an administra- tive fee of €10. The owner must also be in possession of a le- gally valid identification docu- ment, plate and licence disc for the vehicle to be used. The Transport Malta website states that "no person shall ride an e-scooter on the road unless that person has reached the age of 16 years and has satisfied the Authority that he or she has some knowledge of the High- way Code through a theory test." Bolt insists it is addressing complaints on the irregular parking of its electric rental scooters Over the last two weeks, many have taken to social media to complain on the manner in which the electric scooters are haphazardly parked across the island. Social media users posted photos of the scooters obstructing pavements, roads and even garage entrances Customs nab 113kg of khat in air freight MATTHEW AGIUS A Hamrun shop-owner is ex- pected to be charged in con- nection with the interception of 113kg of the prohibited sub- stance known as khat which ar- rived in Malta as airfreight. Khat is an illegal chewing stimulant which is listed as a dangerous drug. It is most pop- ular in East Africa, Yemen, and Southern Saudi Arabia. Customs officials from the Airfreight Section, while in- specting commercial cargo arriving at one of the airport's cargo sheds on Friday morning, came across a consignment of what was declared as Henna leaves. The consignment was flagged as suspicious by the re- leasing officials and Customs Enforcement personnel were called to test the substance. After offloading the pallet and inspecting all the boxes, a total of 59 packets of a green sub- stance, weighing 113 kgs net, were seized. The Enforcement Officials were not convinced that the merchandise consisted of raw henna due to the con- sistency and smell, and sus- pected it was khat. The help of the Police Anti-Drug Squad was requested, who seized the cargo for additional forensic laboratory tests. Late in the evening, forensic tests confirmed that the sub- stance was indeed khat. The man who was to receive the items, a foreign citizen liv- ing in Malta who owns a shop in Hamrun, was placed under arrest pending investigation and is expected to be arraigned in Court. Photo of the khat consignment released by Customs