E-scooters and the UK Future of Transport

UK government has launched a consultation to make future transport smarter and greener through new transport technology. Alongside the ‘’Future of Transport’’ regulatory review, a £90 million funding must lead to trials on transport innovations including e-scooters, which are currently not allowed on the road in the UK.

The overall review will consider how people make small changes to their everyday travel decisions and whether they could choose to walk, cycle, use the bus or an e-scooter instead of taking the car.

Funding must lead to trials of new transport innovations in 3 new ‘’future transport zones’’. The zones will provide real-world testing for experts, allowing them to work with a range of local bodies such as councils, hospitals, airports and universities to test innovative ways to transport people and goods.

One of the three future transport zones is the e-scooter (micro mobility vehicles). There is an online consultation on (technical) requirements for micromobility including e-scooters. Main question in this consultation is as to whether e-scooters should be allowed on the road in the UK. Also, a minimum age, vehicle standards and insurance requirements will be explored. Another issue in the consultation is the question as to whether local authorities should have extra powers to manage the impacts of e-scooters on public space, for example where they can be parked. The consultation closes on 22 May.

Find out more about the UK consultation

Photo by Marek Rucinski on Unsplash