A PLANNED e-scooter trial in Glasgow will need more work before getting the green light after opposition councillors attempted to put the brakes on.

Concerns have been raised over the safety of people with visual impairments if e-scooters are allowed.

And councillors have questioned whether the scooters will offer an effective alternative to cars.

Councillor Anna Richardson, city convener for sustainability and carbon reduction, asked the city’s administration committee to approve starting a trial – subject to instruction from Transport Scotland and once a suitable operator had been found.

But members have asked for more details before giving the go-ahead.

READ MORE: Glasgow councillors set to decide on Scotland’s first e-scooter trial

Trials are taking place in England but, in Scotland, additional legislation is required, including an amendment to allow e-scooters to be used on cycle tracks.

Glasgow Labour deputy leader Eva Murray said her party was concerned about the lack of engagement with organisations such as the Royal National Institute of Blind People Scotland and Guide Dogs Scotland.

She said the “rise of street clutter” would be “a hazard to those with visual impairments and mobility restrictions”.

“Other trials across the UK have had to suspend their pilots due to incidents.

“I think we need to take time to fully look at these other trials and have a serious think about what we can learn to ensure Glasgow doesn’t face those same issues.”

A council report said these risks would be a “focus of any potential trial” and “mitigated before proceeding”.

Ms Richardson said the council would learn from trials in England. “We are taking a balanced approach; we are not simply accepting what the scooter manufacturers tell us.”

She said pavement clutter could be tackled through “geofencing and parking zones”.

Geofencing can restrict the areas where a scooter is used. “You can isolate footways and carriageways, so that a vehicle will not function on a pavement,” Ms Richardson added.

For example, Buchanan Street could be completely blocked off to scooters, she explained.

The councillor also said a trial would begin “cautiously” and there would be a speed limit, possibly 10mph.

But Labour’s Bailie John Kane said: “You’re basically saying there’s a huge amount of development work to be done.”

He added a paper should be brought back to committee once a “proper scheme”, taking on board the views of those with visual impairments, had been designed.

And Labour leader Malcolm Cunning said there was a “concerning lack of detail”.

“A silent machine coming up behind you at 10mph is a threat to your safety,” he added.

Glasgow Greens’ councillor Jon Molyneux said there has been “aggressive lobbying” by e-scooter companies for several years, adding there’s not “purely an interest in the public good”.

READ MORE: E-scooters can be 'accessible and affordable' addition to Glasgow

He said there was evidence from Europe which showed only 4% of journeys by e-scooter displaced car use.

“The majority of journeys taken are displacing active travel or public transport,” he added.

He put forward an amendment, altered by Ms Richardson, which was agreed, supporting “further development” of a trial.

A future report on how the project would work, including a full equality impact assessment, will need to be accepted by councillors.

Ms Richardson said: “E-scooters are not a magic bullet, they are not going to fix our transport problems.

“There is research that shows people use e-scooters rather than walking or taking the bus, but it does also eat into the car share as well.”

She said the scooters could be a “useful addition” and could be used to fill gaps where other transport wasn’t available.

“We are not looking at this in the next year,” she added.