Joint letter calls on UK government to speed up e-scooter legislation

CoMoUK, a cross-industry group which brings together public, private and third sector organisations to support shared transport, has called on UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to speed up the legalisation of e-scooters.

In a letter sent on behalf of the group, over 50 UK-based organisations – including local authorities, micromobility operators, environmental charities and retailers – have urged the Prime Minister to create a new powered light vehicle class which would legalise the devices.

Rental e-scooters are currently only available through government trials in around 23 towns and cities in England, with the letter warning that the UK is at risk of falling behind the rest of Europe.

“The evidence from the trials is that e-scooters are incredibly popular, with huge demand from users, and the UK has been left as an international outlier by not introducing permanent legality,” said Richard Dilks, Chief Executive of CoMoUK.

“To address the crisis levels of transport emissions in the UK and help people save money amid the cost-of-living crisis, the government can’t delay any further.”

Private e-scooters

Since the launch of trials in June 2021, over 34 million journeys via rental e-scooter trips have been made.

With trials set to end in May 2024, the letter has called for clarity.

“There is no certainty of these trials beyond spring next year nor the ability of additional towns or cities to introduce these services,” the letter says.

“This lack of certainty combined with the fact an estimated 750,000 privately owned and unregulated e-scooters are on UK roads underscores the importance of e-scooter legislation being included in this year’s King’s Speech.”

Despite being illegal to use on UK roads and in public spaces, private e-scooter use is widespread across the UK, with laws only occasionally enforced.

“These private vehicles are unlikely to undergo regular maintenance by trained professionals or have government-mandated safety features,” the letter states.

“Private e-scooters can cause concern for road users particularly disabled people in addition to potentially being unsafe for riders, however, this is where legislation and regulation can make a positive difference.”

Signatories

Mike Bell, head of public affairs and campaigns at Thomas Pocklington Trust, a national charity working with blind and partially sighted people, said: “Unregulated and illegal private e-scooters are terrorising visually impaired pedestrians and many other people on our pavements.

“It urgently needs government to act and regulate the market for both private and rental e-scooters in favour of those responsible companies actively building in safety and street etiquette.”

Signatories to the letter include: the Campaign for Better Transport, Clean Cities Campaign, London Cycling Campaign, Major Trauma Group, Northamptonshire Police, Sustrans, Thomas Pocklington Trust, Transport Action Network, Urban Transport Group and Women in Transport, Essex County Council, Milton Keynes City Council, North Northamptonshire Council, Somerset Council, West Northamptonshire Council and West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

Micromobility operators Voi, Beryl, Dott, Ginger, Lime, Superpedestrian, Tier and Zwings also signed.

Image: tfl