Tag Archive: UK GOVERNMENT

  1. E-scooter trials have fueled ‘a progressive shift away from private vehicles’ – UK Government

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    Source: MicromobilityBiz, A. Ballinger

    The review commissioned by the Department for Transport (DfT) covers the 32 e-scooter rental schemes run across the UK between July 2020 and early 2022.

    The report highlights both the positive areas and any areas for concern created by the e-scooter schemes. Of particular interest, the report notes a “progressive increase in mode shift away from private vehicles as trials matured“, with the majority of residents seeing the introduction of the schemes as a positive thing.

    A key concern is that surrounding the safety of the relatively new technology, with data indicating e-scooter collisions to be more common than those of either conventional bikes or e-bikes. Further concerns regard the technical elements of the scooters (audibility, viability, and acceleration), as well as the behavior of users in shared pedestrian and road spaces.

    The trials have seen shifts in policy throughout their operation, including mandatory identification numbers, and increased campaigning for helmet usage, parking responsibility, and care while riding.

    In response to the report, the DfT said: “To maximise the benefits of the e-scooter trials evaluation report, DfT will learn lessons from this evaluation and we look forward to releasing further information on the future policy around e-scooters and similar light electric vehicles.”

    To read more on the current state of shared e-scooter rental schemes in the UK, see our recent article “UK shared e-scooter trials reach 30 million total journeys.”

  2. UK Government launches new investigative branch for traffic incidents, including those related to e-scooters

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    Source: Micromobilitybiz, A. Ballinger

    The Road Safety Investigation Branch (RSIB) has been established to provide insight into incidents occurring on the UK’s roads

    A specialized team of inspectors will aid in making the streets safer while advising on how new technologies can be implemented across the road system.

    The RSIB will monitor all electric and self-driving vehicles, as well as the safety trends of e-scooters. From here, UK ministers and police will obtain independent safety recommendations that may influence the future of road safety policy.

    Roads minister Baroness Vere shared, “The UK may have some of the safest roads in the world, but tragedies still happen and any injury or death on our road network is one too many. That’s why we’re establishing the road safety investigation branch, so we can boost safety for road-users even further and also bring safety measures in line with other modes of transport and the future of travel.”

    Until now, the UK road network has lacked such an independent body; air, rail, and maritime networks all have long had established investigative branches. The Department for Transport plans to include the launch of the RSIB in the upcoming Transport Bill, which will also create a new vehicle category for electric scooters, paving the way for the legalization of private-use e-scooters on public roads.

    Read the Gov.UK announcement here.

  3. Pilot scheme: Free e-bike loans across England

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    Source: Cycling Industry News, Simon Cox

    The ‘Cycling made e-asy’ scheme runs from 2022 into 2023, offering free e-bike loans to citizens in 5 pilot areas, beginning with Greater Manchester

    The UK Department for Transport has provided £8 million of investment to the ‘cycling made e-asy’ scheme, which is run by Cycling UK. The primary goal is to make e-bikes accessible to those who do not have access to, or would not consider, cycling as a form of transport.

    Confirmed ‘Cycling made e-asy’ partners, supporting the delivery of the initiative, include Evans Cycles, Raleigh Bikes, Specialized, Tier Mobility, Islabikes, Cycling Projects, Bikeworks, Fusion Media, Modeshift, Cyclescheme, Cycle Confident, Big Issue e-bikes, Bicycle Association, and Transport for Quality of Life.

    The program delivers a part of the ‘Cycling and Walking Plan (Gear Change)’. The plan was created with the ambitious vision of half of all journeys in UK urban areas being walked or cycled by 2030.

    Cycling UK is a well-established organization in the UK, holding extensive experience in engaging with underrepresented groups and breaking down societal barriers. Utilizing a network of over 400 community cycling organizations will allow the scheme to rapidly engage with non-regular cyclists who may be interested in e-bike commuting.

    Sarah Mitchell, Cycling UK’s chief executive said:

    “The project is a unique opportunity for Cycling UK to offer free and easy loans of electric cycles to communities across England. Each of our chosen locations will have a variety of e-cycles available to suit a variety of participants’ needs. At Cycling UK, we understand that taking the first step to start cycling can be a difficult prospect for many people. This project will allow them to access an e-cycle without obstacles holding them back, to help them make real changes to their travel habits.”

    Cycling minister Trudy Harrison said:

    “The £8 million we have provided for this scheme will help make cycling the natural first choice for many journeys – a key Government commitment from the Prime Minister’s Walking and Cycling plan. I’m grateful to Cycling UK for delivering this scheme on our behalf, giving people across the UK the opportunity to try something new whilst doing good for the planet.”

    Find the Cycling Made E-asy website here.

  4. UK government advised to consider new private e-scooter legislation

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    Source: European Transport Safety Council

    European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) member, PACTS, has set out recommendations for private e-scooter use in the UK if the vehicles are to become legal. This includes mandatory helmet use and a minimum rider age of 16. Recommendations were based on a nine-month research project.

    At present, e-scooter use in the UK is limited to city-specific rental schemes. Private usage is restricted to private land, despite this over a million such vehicles have entered the UK in recent years and it is not uncommon to see them in a public setting. Many users are either ignorant of or ignore the ban on public use and face fines or confiscation.

    Following its research, PACTS has published a comprehensive report looking at many aspects of e-scooter design and use which took into account research and experience from across the rest of Europe, where e-scooters are legal in most countries. This is seen by PACTS as the ideal legal scenario in which to launch private e-scooter ownership in the UK. Recommendations are as follows:

    • Maximum possible top speed of between 10mph-12.5mph (16-20km/h)
    • Maximum continuous rated motor power 250 W
    • Anti-tampering mechanisms should be included in the construction. Tampering should be prohibited by law
    • A maximum unladen weight of 20kg
    • A minimum front wheel size of 12 inches (30.5cm) and minimum rear wheel size of 10 inches (25.5cm)
    • Two independently controlled braking devices
    • Lighting to be mandatory at all times
    • An audible warning device to be mandatory
    • Helmet wearing to be mandatory
    • Rider age limit of at least 16 years
    • Riding on the pavement to be prohibited
    • Carrying of a passenger to be prohibited
    • Drink driving, dangerous or careless riding, and mobile phone use to be prohibited
    • In-person rider training recommended
    • e-scooters should be regulated as motor vehicles
    • Public liability insurance for riders recommended
    • The rider should inform the police if there is a collision involving an injury 

  5. Updated e-scooter trial requirements in the UK – number plates, speed limits, and more

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    Source: UK GOV, Micromobilitybiz

    From 1 April new guidance will come into effect across the UK for shared micromobility trials, ensuring safety and best practice is at the forefront of the scheme.

    Each e-scooter in UK-wide micromobility trials will be required to display a manufacturer label with a unique identification number; these should be clearly visible on either the steering column, side, or rear of each vehicle. A variety of reasoning is given for this updated guidance, primarily easier identification of individual riders by both the police and the public. In the UK public usage of a privately owned e-scooter is illegal, identification numbers will aid in differentiating vehicles that are not part of micromobility trials.

    Outside of unique identification numbers, a range of additional recommendations have been released focusing on safety for both riders and the public. Recommendations include a lower speed limit for new riders, good-parking incentives, safety events, and technological improvements. The full release can be viewed here.

    Following the extended trial period, evaluation of the scheme’s success will inform the future of micromobility services in the UK.

  6. E-scooters and the UK Future of Transport

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    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

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