Understanding the positive and negative impacts of electric
scooters from the data and evidence of current on-road trials
will be key to the decision about whether they will be legalised,
the Government has told the Transport Committee.
Today, the Transport Committee publishes the Government’s
Response to its report, ‘E-scooters: pavement nuisance or
transport innovation?’ In its October report, the Committee
called for swift action to legalise the use of private e-scooters
on roads and cycle lanes.
Around thirty trials of rental e-scooters are underway across the
UK, running until Autumn 2021. The Department for Transport says
it will use this information, the Committee’s report and further
findings from wider public stakeholder engagement to inform a
decision on whether and how e-scooters might be legalised. The
monitoring and evaluation contract has been awarded and
conversations with several external stakeholders such as
vulnerable road users are already taking place.
The use of e-scooters on pavements was of prime concern for
witnesses during the inquiry. Agreeing with the Committee’s call
for robust enforcement measures, today’s response makes clear
that pavement use will remain illegal. The Department says it is
monitoring measures being used by operators in the trials
including camera sensors, onboard sensor devices and geo-fencing
technology. This can also reduce the hazard of street clutter.
Trial e-scooters are classified as ‘motor vehicles’ and users
require some form of driving licence. The Government will
consider the evidence from the trials on the safety of users and
non-users before reviewing this decision.
The Committee’s report concluded that e-scooters have the
potential to be a low-cost, accessible and environmentally
friendly alternative to the private car. The Department says that
encouraging people to make the switch for some short journeys
will be a key measure of success. If trials are successful and
the Government chooses to legalise e-scooters, environmental
sustainability will be a key consideration.
Chair of the Transport Select Committee, , said:
“When we launched our inquiry, we asked whether this new mode of
transport was a pavement nuisance or transport innovation. The
answer is that e-scooters are both.
“We are pleased that the Department is putting a premium on
collecting data and evidence from the trials and from other
countries. We maintain our view that 18 months is a suitable
timeframe to analyse the results of e-scooter trials and
implement any decisions. This takes us to April 2022 and we urge
the Government does not lose momentum on this. We are in a
pandemic and the use of public transport has reduced
considerably. As we go into Christmas, we are mindful that the
sales and use of private e-scooters – which are still illegal –
continue to rise, with continued negative impacts on pedestrians
and disabled people.
“Encouraging people out of cars for short journeys and on to
e-scooters will be worthwhile if they are environmentally
sustainable in their design and the processes used to recharge
them. We look forward to hearing further evidence on their
environmental impact and would encourage the Department to set
targets for modal shift beyond the trial period. We will continue
to monitor the Department’s progress through our inquiry into
Reforming public transport after the pandemic.”
