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Queen’s speech paves way for e-scooter
legislation
The Queen’s Speech on Tuesday May 10 advocated keeping ‘the UK at
the forefront of transport innovation.’
Although it didn’t specifically mention e-mobility or e-scooters
a government spokeswoman later confirmed: "While riding a
privately owned e-scooter on public land is currently illegal, we
are considering how best to design future regulations and our
Transport Bill will help us to take the steps we need to make
e-scooters safer and support innovation.” *
Edmund King, AA president, will be outlining his
views on micromobility at a ‘New Mobility Forum’ in east London
today (13), which coincides with the first eSC track race.**
King will say: “If we get the right safety legislation and if
micromobility is promoted correctly, and if the transport
authorities understand it, then it can lead to a radical
transformation. It has the potential to totally change our towns
and cities and change their layout.
Training:
“Our driver training division, DriveTech, has been working with
some of the shared e-scooter operators on training modules for
their riders which I helped to develop. So far, we have
partnered with TIER, Lime, Dott, Voi and Spin [now owned by
TIER]. From an AA point of view, we would like to see more
emphasis on training in general. I am not saying there should be
a driving test for e-scooter riders, but some basic education
really can help.
“Our surveys suggest a growing interest in micromobility, with
almost one third (32%) of 18 to 24-year-olds saying they would
consider buying an e-scooter.”
Regulation:
King will also argue that the regulations should cover maximum
speed (15.5mph), brakes, lights, indicators and size of wheels
and rider should be at least 16 years of age.
Infrastructure:
King added: “Broader than regulation, we do need better
infrastructure. Micromobility can revolutionise cities, but will
need space to succeed.
“In the past, when it comes to the cycle networks, we haven’t
been great at this. You'll have a cycle lane for a quarter of a
mile, then it stops and then there's a junction, then there's
something else. In the last few years, we have been getting
better, but I still think a lot more needs to be done.
“In Holland the cycle lanes are far wider than in the UK so can
accommodate e-scooters and e-bikes. If we want e-scooters to go
beyond the early adopters and go mainstream, then we need the
infrastructure. And that’s not always an easy thing to do.
“You will have seen the conflicts between different groups across
London and other areas who have reacted to pedestrianisation and
closing off certain streets, so it needs to be consulted, planned
and coherent.
“Whilst micromobility has the potential to reduce congestion and
emissions, consideration needs to be given to the needs of all
road-users including pedestrians, disabled groups (particularly
the blind and the deaf), and indeed drivers. It takes some
time to reassure people of the benefits and to get that message
across before it becomes more mainstream.”
ends
Notes to editors
Details of the New Mobility forum can be found here: Leaders across transport sector
to converge at first New Mobility Forum (zagdaily.com)
* UK government to bring in
e-scooter law - BBC News
** Riders will race a specially designed eSkootr known as the
S1-X. This eSkootr was developed by YCOM and Williams Advanced
Engineering and can reach speeds of 100 km/h, on specially
designed inner-city circuits.
