Dott e-scooters are a common site haphazardly parked on pavements across the city, while two people can often be seen riding one scooter and even occasionally three people.
In a new safety push a raft of changes will be rolled out.
The e-scooter trial scheme covers Bristol, Bath and parts of South Gloucestershire including Yate and Chipping Sodbury, allowing people to rent a scooter via an app and get around faster than walking and without having to wait for a bus or lock up a bicycle.
The Scoot Safe campaign has been launched by Helen Godwin, the mayor of the West of England region, and Clare Moody, the police and crime commissioner for Avon and Somerset. The two Labour politicians said lots of people have valid concerns about the e-scooter scheme.
Ms Godwin said: “We know how handy e-bikes and e-scooters are for some people to get around our towns and cities, and that most people ride responsibly. The number of rides across our region so far shows that it’s an important part of our transport mix.
“But lots of people have valid concerns.
“Convenient travel for some people shouldn’t inconvenience others. Scoot Safe, which will roll out over the coming weeks, emphasises the need for responsible riding and parking to help people to keep themselves — and others — safe.
“Enhanced enforcement from Dott will mean people are kicked off the app when more than one person rides on an e-scooter, alongside new fines for poor parking, and easier ways for people to report issues.
“All of this will strike a better balance, with more marked parking zones for e-bikes and e-scooters making our pavements tidier for everyone, including disabled people.”
Transport bosses at the West of England Combined Authority are in the process of confirming details of new parking bays with the three local councils in the region, and hope to announce these soon.
People seen tandem riding, also known as giving a backie, can be reported to Dott, with a target to assess reports and issue bans within 24 hours, notifying police if needed.
The e-scooter trial — first run by Voi, then Tier and now Dott — is one of the largest and most successful in the UK and Europe, with more than 1,500 e-bikes and 2,500 e-scooters. Almost 10,000 rides are taken each day.
The scheme is expanding into Yate and Chipping Sodbury today, Friday (August 22) as part of a six-month trial.
Ms Moody added: “E-scooters can be a convenient way to travel but must be used legally and responsibly.
“When they’re not, they cause real problems — they put pedestrians at risk, create hazards for people with mobility issues and families with young children, and even endanger the riders themselves.
“Remember: only Dott hire scooters are legal on our roads. If you see irresponsible use of hire scooters, report it to Dott, and information about illegal private e-scooters should be reported to the police or Crimestoppers.
“The Scoot Safe campaign is about making sure everyone can use our streets safely and making sure unsafe riding has consequences.”
Tandem riding has always been banned, but the scheme is tightening the rules so that anybody caught doing so will be blocked from using the app in future.
Similar bans apply to letting other people use your licence in the app.
The campaign also warns people that riding under the influence of drugs or alcohol is illegal, and you could lose your licence and face prison time.
Hiring an e-scooter with Dott is the only way people can legally ride an e-scooter on public roads.
However private e-scooters are commonly used in Bristol and the police usually turn a blind eye, although they occasionally seize scooters and destroy them.
E-scooter riders must be aged 18 or over and have a driving licence or a provisional licence.
Dott’s vehicles have registration plates, and anybody can report problems via an online form or phoning 0800 048 8993. Scooters are not allowed to be used on pavements.
Earlier this summer the scheme expanded into Lyde Green, Cadbury Heath, Longwell Green, Oldland Common, Warmley, Coalpit Heath, Frampton Cotterell and Winterbourne.