Tag Archive: Transport for London

  1. Transport for London (TfL) considers reducing minimum age limit for e-scooter riders to 16 and increasing the speed limit

    Comments Off on Transport for London (TfL) considers reducing minimum age limit for e-scooter riders to 16 and increasing the speed limit

    Source: Safer Highways

    Transport officials under Sadiq Khan are reportedly considering raising the maximum speed for rental e-scooters to 15.5 mph and lowering the minimum rider age to 16.

    This proposal comes despite 35 serious e-scooter-related injuries in London since trials began in 2021 as part of the city’s “green transport revolution.

    Currently, nearly 5,000 rental scooters in London have a speed cap of 12.5 mph. However, according to a report referenced by The Telegraph, Transport for London (TfL) is considering aligning with the UK’s national e-scooter speed limit of 15.5 mph. The proposal would also permit riders aged 16 and older, provided they hold a provisional license.

    London’s two e-scooter operators each have their own age restrictions: Lime requires riders to be 18, while Voi sets the minimum at 16. Nationally, e-scooters are capped at 15.5 mph, though some cities, like London, have opted for lower speed limits.

    The London Council report indicates that TfL hopes these adjustments could bolster the e-scooter trial’s longevity and competitiveness. However, safety concerns remain high; Department for Transport data from 2022 reveals that e-scooters were involved in 1,402 collisions across Britain, with 440 resulting in serious injuries requiring hospital treatment. Tragically, 12 fatalities were recorded in e-scooter accidents that year, including 11 riders and one pedestrian.

    Sarah Gayton, a representative from the blind advocacy charity NFBUK, criticized TfL’s consideration of speed increases, calling it “insane” and alleging undue influence from e-scooter operators. In defense, TfL’s e-scooter trial lead Helen Sharp emphasized the trial’s safety standards, adding that while they considered aligning with the national 15.5 mph limit, no immediate changes are planned.

    In London, e-scooters can currently be rented in boroughs including Camden, City of London, Ealing (east), Hammersmith and Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea, Lambeth, Richmond upon Thames, Southwark, Tower Hamlets (Canary Wharf area), and Westminster. The rental contracts for these e-scooters have been extended until 2026.

  2. London’s ULEZ subsidies could contribute to increased LEV use in excluded groups

    Comments Off on London’s ULEZ subsidies could contribute to increased LEV use in excluded groups

    Source: Cycling Industry News, M. Sutton

    Subsidies available through the ‘Ultra Low Emission Zone’ scrappage scheme have been confirmed to be valid for the purchase of e-bikes, cargo bikes, and e-scooters.

    London’s ultra-low emission zone (ULEZ) was designed to reduce the use of the most polluting vehicles in the city centre. Thus far, the ULEZ has helped to reduce roadside pollution levels by 44% in central London and 20% in inner London. Hence, the scheme is going London-wide from August 2023, aiming to improve air quality for an additional 5 million residents, trigger a 2% reduction in car use, and cut further into PM2.5 exhaust emissions.

    A key factor in the ULEZ expansion is the associated £110 million ‘scrappage scheme’; the full details of this can be found here. Transport for London shared, “Following the success of our last scrappage scheme, which saw the removal of more than 15,000 polluting vehicles from London’s roads, our new scrappage scheme will support Londoners on certain low income or disability benefits, and eligible micro-businesses (up to 10 employees), sole traders and charities with a registered address in London. Only eligible applicants with vehicles that do not meet the ULEZ emissions standard will qualify for our new scrappage scheme.

    It is excellent to hear that scrappage subsidies can be applied to the purchase of e-bikes, e-scooters, and cargo bikes. This massively improves the accessibility of LEVs and green mobility to many Londoners who may have been priced out until now.

  3. TfL and London Councils to extend London’s trial of rental e-scooters following national trial extensions

    Comments Off on TfL and London Councils to extend London’s trial of rental e-scooters following national trial extensions

    Source: Transport for London

    Transport for London has announced it will extend the trial of e-scooter rentals in London, ahead of the Government’s planned legalisation of private-use scooters.

    In an announcement this week, Transport for London (TfL) and London Councils confirmed that e-scooter schemes in the capital run by Dott, Lime and Tier will be temporarily extended to allow authorities to collect more data on this developing mode of transport.

    TfL has also launched a competitive procurement process for operators to run the next phase of London’s rental e-scooter trials.

    The Department for Transport recently updated its guidance to allow rental e-scooter trials to run until 31st May, 2024. London’s schemes will now run until at least September 2023, when the procurement process is completed.

    Will Norman, London’s Walking and Cycling Commissioner, said: “I’m pleased that TfL and London Councils have been able to extend the country’s largest rental e-scooter trial. The Mayor and I are determined to continue building a cleaner, greener and more prosperous London for everyone, and e-scooters can play a useful role in our city’s transport network by offering alternatives to car use. Through the trial, we are also helping to inform future Government legislation on these vehicles to ensure they are safe for all riders and other road users.

    The e-scooter trial has proven to be popular, with more than two million trips already taken, and this next phase of the trial will build upon this, replicating the high safety requirements and high operating standards, and continuing to learn through testing newer technology to ensure that these vehicles work for everybody. With the right regulations that prioritise safety, rental e-scooters can help ensure a green, sustainable future for London.”

    London’s e-scooter trials launched in June last year, with 10 London boroughs initially joining the schemes, with almost two million journeys made and 4,425 e-scooters currently available to hire.

    A competitive procurement for operators to run the next phase of London’s rental e-scooter trial has now launched and operators will be chosen on their ability to meet strict safety requirements and high operating standards, TfL said. 

    It is currently illegal to ride scooters on the road outside of these nationwide rental trials, but the Government has instigated plans to introduce a new low-speed, low-emission vehicle category, paving the way for the legalisation of privately-owned scooters. While there is no definite date for when e-scooters will be legalised, the new legislation could be introduced by summer 2023.

    The contracts let under the new procurement may run for longer than the DfT national trial term (which ends on 31st May 2024) in anticipation of new legislation being passed. To ensure there is a continuation of service in London, the current trial contracts operated by Dott, Lime and Tier, which expire this year, will be extended temporarily until the procurement is complete.  

    Helen Sharp, TfL’s e-scooter trial lead, said: “E-scooters could play an important role in ensuring a green and sustainable future for London, which is why we’re really pleased to be able to extend the e-scooter trial. We’re working closely with London Councils on our plans for the next phase of the trial, which will help us build on its successes so far. We hope Londoners can continue to benefit from the trial and we will continue to use its data to learn more about the role e-scooters could play in helping people move around London sustainably.”   

    Throughout the continuing trial, operators will be required to provide critical data for TfL and the participating boroughs to understand the impact of e-scooters on London’s transport goals, including the Vision Zero aim to eliminate death and serious injuries from London’s roads.   

    Mayor Phil Glanville, London Councils’ climate change, transport and environment lead, said: “I am pleased that London’s rental e-scooter trial is being extended to allow more people across our capital to take advantage of this sustainable mode of transport. Thanks to the boroughs taking part in the trial, London continues to be at the forefront of innovation when it comes to micro-mobility, transport and the journey to net zero.” 

    We look forward to working with TfL and stakeholders to make the next phase of the trial a success and we are confident that rental e-scooters will continue to provide an alternative to car-based travel in the capital. Safety remains our top priority and we will continue to look closely at data and insights to see how e-scooters can play a part in a more sustainable future for London.” 

Campaign success

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.

Member profile

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.