Apologies to Rembrandt [johnsadlerillustration.com]

• I AM absolutely delighted to read that the city of Melbourne has banned e-scooters after a trial period.

Of course, the dangers these vehicles pose to other road users are reason enough. But my other key objection to them is that they have been responsible for speeding up our lives even more.

Whatever happened to the leisurely walk down the street, with time to stop occasionally to chat with friends and acquaintances? What’s is the big hurry, everybody?

People are risking their lives (and those of other people) so that they can get to an “important meeting”, only to watch colleagues showing off as they pitch for promotion.

Once there, the odds are they will be sitting around feigning attention while surreptitiously scrolling down their mobile phones chuckling at funny felines, or fatuous memes.

Is it really worth it? Let’s reclaim our lives! And ban those dangerous bloody scooters!

R HICKS, WC1