Scotland could legalise electric scooters as public pressure and clean air goals prompt action

Ahead of the Holyrood elections in May, Collaborative Mobility UK has called on the Scottish political parties to commit to passing legislation that would give the public access to shared e-scooters.

The pledge forms part of six other requests made by the association, which it hoped would be present in political party manifestos.

The other measures include plans to create a dedicated shared transport team within the next Scottish Government, which would specifically help increase electric scooter usage.

As well as e-scooter schemes, the experts explained how shared transport covers sustainable modes such as bike sharing, car clubs, and lift sharing, which reduce people's reliance on private cars.

Another pledge was to increase the number of car club vehicles in Scotland to a minimum of one per 10,000 inhabitants, which would move the nation closer to places such as Italy and France.

Richard Dilks, chief executive of CoMoUK, said: "Scotland has a tremendous opportunity to become a leader in sustainable travel, and as we approach the Holyrood election, it is time for bold commitments and action.

"Scots have been denied the benefits of shared e-scooters, a flexible and low-carbon mode of transport that has been enjoyed by people in England for years".

While trials have been operating in England since 2020, Scotland has chosen to opt out of the measures, with e-scooters only allowed to operate on private property.

In Scotland, privately owned e-scooters are illegal to use on public roads, pavements, or cycle lanes, with riders facing a £300 fine, six penalty points, and having their scooter seized.

Experts at Road Traffic Accident Law shared: "The only place an e-scooter can be used is on private land, with the permission of the landowner.

"At the moment, they are classified as Personal Light Electric Vehicles so they're treated as motor vehicles and are subject to all the same legal requirements - MOT, tax, licensing and specific construction."

Mr Dilks added: "As well as giving e-scooter schemes the green light, enacting our other pledges would help the next Scottish Government unlock a cleaner, greener, and more affordable future for all.

"We urge all parties to embrace these solutions now, ensuring that Scotland leads the way in sustainable transport rather than watching from the sidelines."

The group explained how primary and secondary legislation would be needed to get e-scooter schemes launched in Scotland, with Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Dundee "all well placed to host trials".

The organisations stressed that placing e-scooters along "key travel corridors" can help connect shared transport schemes with public transport and other active travel options.

Other pledges by CoMoUK include an update to the Active Travel Strategy to include shared bike schemes, as well as a requirement for new housing developments to be designed to reduce car dependency and include shared transport options.