How many times have we seen or experienced riders with no helmets speeding on e-scooters or e-bikes on sidewalks narrowly missing pedestrians or pet walkers.

Almost 3,000 people in one week have signed an online petition to regulate electric scooters in Toronto. More than 500 irate residents signed the petition on one day.

The petition, which was started by scooter-owner Dana Patcas, said the e-scooters are being operated too fast by un-helmeted minors or others and can severely injure the riders, pedestrians or pets.

These electric scooters lack necessary regulations,” the petition state. It “results in minors riding them without helmets, endangering themselves to extreme risks such as fatal accidents.”

The petition warns that some of the unregulated scooters and e-bikes can travel faster than provincial speed limits.

“The accident risk induced by these scooters also amplifies damage potential,” it said. “They can cause severe injuries to pedestrians, both adults and children alike and even their pets.“

The petition called on the City of Toronto to ‘step up and enact robust regulations on the sale and use of electric scooters to ensure the safety of everyone involved.’

It noted the City can keep our streets and sidewalks safe for everyone by imposing age restrictions for use of the devices, introduce mandatory helmet use and speed limit enforcement for electric scooters and e-bikes.

It warned that it will be difficult to enforce a ban the devices.

The petition proposed no riding on sidewalks and that riders should only use bike lanes or the roads and obey bicycle-riding laws.

There should be no speeding and the scooters or e-bikes should have devices to limit their speed to 25 miles an hour.

Double-riding should be prohibited and the introduction of insurance liabilities should also be considered.

The petition can be found on change.org