Lessosns from e-scooter trials? Transport Committee questions police, retailers and local gov’t
The Transport Committee will revisit the ongoing question of how private e-scooters should be regulated, and what has been learnt from the trial public-hire schemes in towns and cities across England.
Despite their prevalence, the use of privately owned e-scooters on public land remains illegal.
Public-hire trials commenced in July 2020 and were initially due to last until 2021. In July 2022 the trial period was extended to May 2024.
Meeting details
In this session, MPs will question witnesses including local government leaders from areas with ongoing trials, Commander Kyle Gordon of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, and representatives of Guide Dogs, Halfords and Voi. They will be asked for their views on issues such as:
- What has been learnt since the Committee’s e-scooters report from 2020
- What consideration should be given to the role of e-scooters in crime
- Whether the Department for Transport's recent evaluation report has demonstrated the positive benefits of e-scooters
- What additional safety and environmental considerations may need to be considered as the trial period continues
- How the effects of e-scooters on the street environment and interaction with pedestrians can be managed.
There will also be questions to Justin Stevenson, Head of Design at Halfords, about what retailers can do to ensure customers are both of age and aware of the legal position of private e-scooters.
Other panellists may be asked which organisations or authorities should share responsibility for educating the public about safe use of e-scooters, and how best to do so.
Since early 2022, ministers have given mixed signals about the possibility of legislation being brought forward by the end of the current Parliament to regulate the use and retail of e-scooters. In December the Department said it is still considering plans to legalise privately-owned e-scooters, but that no decisions have been made about technical requirements and expectations on users’ behaviour. Currently, there are no current safety or performance standards, and a wide range of models are available.
This session follows the Committee’s inquiry into e-scooters that concluded in 2020. Among its recommendations were: that using a private e-scooter should not require a driving licence; The Government should monitor collisions during the trial period to determine future insurance requirements; local authorities should determine speed limits for e-scooters in their area; robust enforcement measures to eliminate pavement use of e-scooters.
The Department agreed or partly agreed with all the Committee’s recommendations.