Industry experts are calling on the Government to go further with new rules on electric scooter trials to benefit all road users.
The Department for Transport unveiled new rules earlier this week allowing local authorities to make dramatic changes to ongoing e-scooter rules.
Under the new guidance, authorities will be able to request changes to the geography and fleet size of electric scooter trials in the area.
The Government will consider any changes to the e-scooter trials based on “proportionate and clear” evidence.
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Experts are calling for more e-scooter rules to be rolled out
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Despite more than 20 e-scooter rental trials taking place across the UK, research is still taking place to ensure the Government can deliver a smooth rollout.
If local authorities are wanting to introduce changes to e-scooter trials as part of the new process, they must lodge a request before May 31, 2024.
Any approved changes will then take effect from June 1, 2024, more than four years after e-scooter trials were first introduced.
Matthew Pencharz, head of public policy for Voi UK, Ireland and France, said it was “good news” that the Department for Transport was making it easier for local authorities to expand e-scooter trials.
However, he noted that the Government needed to go further and ensure that other cities and towns could join the trial schemes.
He said riders would be able to benefit from the electric scooters, calling them “safe, affordable and sustainable”.
Speaking to GB News, Pencharz added: “We have invested in warehouses, e-scooters and e-bikes and staff in the UK.
“For the UK micromobility market to become financially sustainable, we need action on expanding the market.”
Privately owned e-scooters are unable to use public roads and are banned on most major transport networks including the London Underground.
There had been hopes that the Government would unveil legislation to legalise the use of private e-scooters in a bid to boost the popularity of urban mobility vehicles.
They have frequently been touted as being a suitable option for people commuting in urban areas as local authorities look for ways to reduce traffic and pollution rates.
Electric scooters have divided opinion across the UK since they were rolled out a few years ago, with many concerned about antisocial behaviour and people using them in ways that may pose a risk to other road users.
The Department for Transport launched new regulations in December, mandating that all existing and new users of e-scooter trials have to provide their name and driving licence information.
People must submit a picture of the front of their driving licence under new minimum standards of verification in the hopes that it will enforce the rules in a clearer way.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
There are more than 20 active e-scooter rental trials active around the UK
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Electric scooter operators must provide clear in-app messaging that explains the rules clearly, including the relevant age limit for the trial and the licence requirements.