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.