Table of Contents
Electric scooters are one of the most polarizing new transportation methods of the last decade.
Those in favor point out that they are a cheap and efficient means of urban mobility. On the other hand, those who are against say that they are dangerous to the point of being “death traps.”
At the moment, electric scooters live in a gray area of the law where it is legal to buy them but riding them in public is illegal (unless they are part of a test).
However, it looks like the Government could press ahead with plans to legislate alternative zero-emissions measures, after suggesting they will be a “really effective part” of an integrated transport system.
So if the move is sure to provoke fury among the public and parliament, why are they so divisive? And have we reached a point where any decision is better than no decision?
We take a look at the state of electric scooters before their use is legislated on a road near you.
Transport Secretary Louise Haigh has said the government will “absolutely” press ahead with zero-emission e-bike legislation.
What is the Government’s position on electric scooters?
Former Transport Secretary Louise Haigh said she would “absolutely” press ahead with legislation on private zero-emission electric scooters.
The Government suggested they would be part of a “really effective part” of an integrated transport system, but highlighted parking and litter as potential problems that need to be addressed.
There are currently national trials of e-scooter hire across England, but private e-scooters are illegal on roads and footpaths.
Debates, particularly around its safe use, have been intense since the tests were introduced in 2020.
CoMoUK, the national organization for ride-sharing, estimates that 750,000 privately owned unregulated electric scooters are currently in use in the UK.
Speaking to a Parliamentary Transport Select Committee, Haigh said: “We have no parliamentary time this session nor a relevant bill that could be used to regulate e-scooters, but we will look to legislate, absolutely – it is clearly necessary.”
“It’s not enough that he was left in this situation for too long.”
Haigh also addressed the “behavioural impact of electric scooters” saying: “(There are) undoubtedly issues around parking and litter on the streets” and the government needs to “look very carefully at what rides they are replacing”.
Is electric scooter legislation long overdue? And what are the arguments for and against?
Illegal use of electric scooters is common, which is a major problem with electric scooters.
CoMoUK, the national organization for ride-sharing, estimates that 750,000 privately owned unregulated electric scooters are currently in use in the UK.
Department of Transport figures show there were 1,292 collisions with electric scooters in 2023 and 1,387 fatalities among people using them.
Conservative peer Lord Blencathra, who called for stricter restrictions and enforcement, described electric scooters as “silent killing machines”.
Fire risks are another perceived problem: in 2021, London firefighters were called to 130 fires involving lithium-ion batteries, 28 of which were directly related to electric scooters.
And in addition to the “behavioral impact of electric scooters” cited by the government, there is also a risk for people with visual and hearing impairments.
A 2022 House of Lords document, ‘Electric scooters: the road ahead’, noted that electric scooters are a danger to blind people, citing evidence from the Royal National Institute of Blind People that “micromobility vehicles such as electric scooters are extremely difficult for blind and partially sighted people to see, and work silently, which also makes it difficult for them to listen.’
Haigh said: “We have no parliamentary time this session nor a relevant bill that could be used to regulate e-scooters, but we will look to legislate, absolutely – it is clearly necessary.” “It is not enough that he has been left in this situation for so long”
But for testing advocates, electric scooters are an easy and affordable way to reduce congestion and carbon emissions at the same time, and connect a city’s transportation hubs.
And supporters welcome potential legislation, which many believe is long overdue.
There was widespread criticism that the electric scooter law was not addressed in the king’s speech, with activists demanding stricter safety rules be introduced.
CoMoUK welcomed Haigh’s update and called the introduction of the proposed legislation “excellent news”: “Legalization is the only way to grow and ensure the impressive popularity of shared electric scooter trials in the long term, as well as be the only way to have a clear and safe definition of private electric scooters and their use,” said CEO Richard Dilks.
“This way, ministers can give this cheap, flexible and green mode of transport a long-term future, helping to deliver growth and decarbonisation at the same time.”
Electric scooters: what are they? And where can you mount them?
Department for Transport figures show there were 1,292 collisions involving electric scooters in 2023 and 1,387 fatalities involving electric scooters.
E-scooters, as the name suggests, are electric scooters and fall into the category of “electric transporters.”
Under the Road Traffic Act 1988, they are classified as motor vehicles, meaning the same rules apply to them as cars.
Therefore, to ride an electric scooter you need a full or provisional license and insurance, and while you can ride an electric scooter either by privately owning one or renting one through a licensed scheme, it is currently not possible to obtain insurance privately. owned electric scooters.
There are many trials underway in the UK (although not necessarily well received).
Which UK cities have electric scooter trials?
While private use of electric scooters is illegal, those participating in the 20 trials (of which Voi, Tier-Dott and Lime are the main suppliers) can legally rent an electric scooter in cities across England (including 10 London boroughs) .
In total there are trials of electric scooters in 19 areas of the country, including London, Oxford and Liverpool. Testing began in June 2020.
How did the European trials go? Did Paris ban electric scooters?
Thus, at the end of August 2023, Paris became the first European capital to ban the rental of electric scooters, despite being the first to introduce them.
Paris is the most prominent city to try electric scooters, mainly because it was one of the first to do so. More than 15,000 shared electric scooters were available for use in Paris at the height of their popularity.
But in 2023, five years later, it became the first European city to end the use of rental electric scooters.
The same issues cited in the UK – safety and behavior such as poor parking and reckless driving – meant Paris introduced strict regulations in 2020, including a speed limit (20km/h) and limiting the number of operators.
Then, in 2023, a yes or no referendum was held and, despite only 7.5 percent of people turning out to vote, 90 percent of those who voted were in favor of the ban.
Thus, at the end of August last year, Paris became the first European capital to ban the rental of electric scooters.
Some links in this article may be affiliate links. If you click on them, we may earn a small commission. That helps us fund This Is Money and keep it free to use. We do not write articles to promote products. We do not allow any commercial relationship to affect our editorial independence.