Blind running coach has been ‘centimetres from serious injury’ thanks to e-bikes and scooters

A registered blind charity volunteer and athlete based in Co Antrim has been “centimetres from serious injury” thanks to e-bikes and scooters, he says.

Tony Barclay, who lives in Carrickfergus, said he now avoids Belfast city centre as a result of youths and adults carelessly using the electric powered vehicles illegally, both on roads and on footpaths.

The marathon runner, who became the first qualified running coach in Ireland with a visual impairment after only starting running in his 50s, said he has had “numerous” near-misses in Carrick also.

He spoke out as the sight-loss charity RNIB warned that e-bikes and scooters presented a unique danger to the visually impaired, and called for tougher enforcement against their use.

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Mr Barclay (69), who in 2023 was awarded an MBE for services to the visually impaired community in Northern Ireland, told The Irish News that pedestrians like him are more vulnerable to collisions with the vehicles than others.

However, he warned that it would take the death of a young e-bike or scooter user before action was finally taken.

“I have had many near misses. In some cases they have brushed past me,” said Tony, whose sight loss began in his 30s as a result of a brain tumour that also impacted his hearing. He now requires the use of hearing aids.

“A couple of weeks ago I was just about to turn a corner, and a guy on an e-bike shot around it. He wasn’t slow – he was flying at about 20 miles per hour, and this is on a footpath.

“I was centimetres away from a serious injury, yet this guy didn’t even stop.”

E-bikes can be used legally on roads and cycle paths in the north as long as they comply with power and speed restrictions.

The legal use of e-scooters however is restricted to off-road use on private land only.

“It would be great if the police would actually enforce the laws with these things, but they are under resourced, so how can they do it?” Tony added.

“Kids get these as presents, many last Christmas, and they are flying out of junctions on roads. It’s bad enough for regular pedestrians, but when you’re visually impaired it’s horrendous.

“If I try and visit Belfast city centre, well good luck. I can’t see these things, I can’t hear them, I don’t know what direction they’re coming from.

“Who is going to do something about this problem? Anyone can buy these things, yet how do we educate people on their use and dangers?

“Will it take a young child being killed before people sit up and say enough is enough?

“This is 100% an issue of parenting as well. I’d say to them - do you want to see your child in a box?”

RNIB NI said just one-in-ten visually impaired people are now confident about walking in their own areas due to the rise in e-bikes and scooters.

The charity has urged the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) to better address the problem in its Active Travel Delivery Plan.

Policy and Campaigns Officer for RNIB NI, Colum Delaney, warned pavements are “becoming a nightmare for people who live with sight loss”.

“It’s intolerable that in today’s society 77 percent of blind and partially sighted people say they feel unsafe whilst out and about due to the behaviour of others,” he said.

“We have raised these concerns with the Infrastructure Minister in a series of meetings in 2025 and 2026. We believe an Active Travel Plan should address key issues which inhibit walking, including the use of e-scooters, pavement parking and advertising boards, among other issues.”

A DfI spokesperson said the Department was “aware of the increasing concern” around the illegal use of e-scooters.

A statement read: “We are currently working with partners to raise awareness on road safety connected to e-scooters and the need to take personal responsibility.

“It is currently illegal to use e-scooters on public roads and public spaces here. Anyone using an e-scooter illegally may be subject to enforcement action by the PSNI. The PSNI has a number of powers to seize retain and dispose of vehicles where they are being driven carelessly or inconsiderately and causing or likely to cause alarm, distress or annoyance to members of the public.

“We appeal to everyone to think twice before using an e-scooter, think about the life changing risks, not just to yourself, but to other road users and pedestrians. We all have a responsibility to create safe spaces for us all to use in our everyday journeys.”