E-scooters

Transport Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 21 Apr 2020 Closed: 15 Jan 2021 Parliament page
E-scooters: pavement nuisance or transport innovation? The Transport Committee is launching an inquiry to explore the safety and legal implications of electric scooters, their impact on congestion, and potential contribution to reducing the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions, ahead of the Government’s obligations to reach net zero by 2050. The Transport … Read more
21 Recommendations
6 Conclusions
1 Report
2 Oral sessions
1 Letter
2 Events
Activity timeline 5 events
13 Apr
2021
Correspondence
14 Dec
2020
Report published
2 Oct
2020
Report published
15 Jul
2020
Oral evidence
1 Jul
2020
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 2 sessions
15 Jul 2020
View on parliament.uk
Alan Clarke · Lime Anthony Ferguson · Department for Transport Emma Silver · Bird Rachel Maclean MP · Department for Transport Richard Corbett · Voi
1 Jul 2020
View on parliament.uk
Eleanor Southwood · Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) Graeme Sherriff · University of Salford Jillian Anable · University of Leeds Lorna Lee · Automobile Association Phillip Darnton OBE · Bicycle Association Rachel Lee · Living Streets
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Third Report: E-scooters: pavement nuisance or transport innovat… HC 255 2 Oct 2020 27 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
13 results
Clear
3 Recommendation Accepted
Third Report: E-scooters: pavement…
There is currently limited evidence within the UK on how the growth of e-scooters has...
There is currently limited evidence within the UK on how the growth of e-scooters has affected other transport usage, and thus the modal shift which may occur as e-scooters continue to grow in popularity. In our view, it would be … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees with the recommendation and will evaluate the impact on modal shift using trip data and user surveys from e-scooter trials across England, aiming to encourage e-scooter use to replace short car journeys.
Department for Transport
View details
4 Recommendation Accepted
Third Report: E-scooters: pavement…
The Department, working with local authorities, must collect data during the rental trials on the...
The Department, working with local authorities, must collect data during the rental trials on the modal shift observed with e-scooters. Should privately-owned e-scooters and rental e-scooter schemes be fully legalised, the Department should use this evidence base to publish its … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees with the recommendation to collect data on modal shift during the e-scooter rental trials. They commit to evaluating the impact through trip data for every journey and by surveying users to understand their alternative travel modes.
Department for Transport
View details
11 Recommendation Accepted
Third Report: E-scooters: pavement…
In our view, the speed of e-scooters should be suitable for the local environment they...
In our view, the speed of e-scooters should be suitable for the local environment they are deployed in. A “one size fits all” approach will not work. Speed limits in the trials can be determined at the local level by … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees, stating that they have already instructed local authorities and e-scooter operators to use local knowledge and geo-fencing technology to implement variable speed limits below the 15.5mph maximum, suitable for specific local environments.
Department for Transport
View details
12 Recommendation Accepted
Third Report: E-scooters: pavement…
In its Response to this Report, the Department should clarify what principles it expects local...
In its Response to this Report, the Department should clarify what principles it expects local authorities to follow when determining e-scooter speed limits in certain areas.
Government Response
The government agrees and clarifies that local authorities should apply local knowledge and geo-fencing technology to set variable speed limits below the 15.5mph maximum in specific areas, such as busy city centres.
Department for Transport
View details
13 Recommendation Accepted
Third Report: E-scooters: pavement…
The Department must use the data gathered during the rental trials, in addition to qualitative...
The Department must use the data gathered during the rental trials, in addition to qualitative and quantitative evidence from other countries, to determine which e-scooter design requirements are appropriate and necessary from a safety perspective. This exercise will help inform … Read more
Government Response
The government fully accepts the recommendation, committing to use data from rental trials and international evidence to determine appropriate e-scooter design requirements and inform minimum standard specifications if privately owned e-scooters are legalised.
Department for Transport
View details
15 Recommendation Accepted
Third Report: E-scooters: pavement…
An e-scooter travelling on a pavement at a speed of up to 15.5 mph is...
An e-scooter travelling on a pavement at a speed of up to 15.5 mph is a serious hazard both for the user and pedestrians. Local authorities need plans in place to monitor and discourage pavement use during rental trials in … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees, stating that trial areas and operators are already tasked with minimizing pavement riding using technology like geo-fencing and user education. They are also considering various monitoring options, including camera and sensor data, and the potential for user account loss for repeat offenders.
Department for Transport
View details
16 Recommendation Accepted
Third Report: E-scooters: pavement…
In responding to this Report, the Department should clarify how it intends to monitor whether...
In responding to this Report, the Department should clarify how it intends to monitor whether e-scooters during the rental trials are being ridden on pavements and the number of users penalised for this offence and that it has evaluated and … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees, detailing its intention to monitor pavement riding through geo-fencing, user education, and new technologies like camera and onboard sensor data. They are also considering sanctions, such as account loss for repeat offenders, and will evaluate the efficacy of these measures throughout the trials.
Department for Transport
View details
17 Recommendation Accepted
Third Report: E-scooters: pavement…
Should privately-owned e-scooters be legalised, the Government should ensure that the law clearly prohibits the...
Should privately-owned e-scooters be legalised, the Government should ensure that the law clearly prohibits the pavement use of e-scooters, that there are robust enforcement measures are in place and that such measures are effective in eliminating this behaviour. Read more
Government Response
The government agrees that if e-scooters are legalised, pavement use would remain prohibited, consistent with existing law that reserves pavements for pedestrians.
Department for Transport
View details
19 Recommendation Accepted
Third Report: E-scooters: pavement…
The Department, working with local authorities, should closely monitor the trials to determine whether any...
The Department, working with local authorities, should closely monitor the trials to determine whether any problems are developing with scooters being left on pavements as ‘street clutter’. If so, the Department will need to trial and evaluate whether stronger regulation … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees with the recommendation and is monitoring various approaches to e-scooter deployment, including free-floating, docking, and geo-fenced parking, through ongoing trials to gather insights for a robust future regulatory framework.
Department for Transport
View details
22 Recommendation Accepted
Third Report: E-scooters: pavement…
The Department should closely monitor the environmental impact of e-scooters during the rental trials and,...
The Department should closely monitor the environmental impact of e-scooters during the rental trials and, if needed, consider introducing stricter requirements around sustainability. (Paragraph 123) Evaluation and next steps
Government Response
The government accepts the recommendation to monitor the environmental impacts of e-scooters during rental trials, stating this monitoring will be a key component of the cost-benefit analysis informing any longer-term policy decisions regarding e-scooter legalisation.
Department for Transport
View details
23 Conclusion Accepted
Third Report: E-scooters: pavement…
The rental trials will provide a crucial evidence base for future legislation on e-scooters.
The rental trials will provide a crucial evidence base for future legislation on e-scooters. The data collected from local authorities and operators will provide valuable information on the impact of e-scooters on safety, the environment, and people’s journey choices. Read more
Government Response
The government agrees, stating that the monitoring and evaluation contract has been awarded and the framework for evaluation is being finalised and will be made publicly available.
Department for Transport
View details
24 Recommendation Accepted
Third Report: E-scooters: pavement…
We recommend that the Department publishes its central evaluation framework for the rental trials, in...
We recommend that the Department publishes its central evaluation framework for the rental trials, in order to ensure full transparency and scrutiny of the policy development process.
Government Response
The government agrees to publish its central evaluation framework for the rental trials, confirming that the monitoring and evaluation contract has been awarded and the finalised framework will be made publicly available.
Department for Transport
View details
26 Recommendation Accepted
Third Report: E-scooters: pavement…
We note that the usage of privately-owned e-scooters, once legalised, will avoid some of the...
We note that the usage of privately-owned e-scooters, once legalised, will avoid some of the downsides of rental schemes, such as scooters being left as ‘street clutter’. However, the concerns we highlight in this Report about pavement use, excessive speed, … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees with the recommendation and commits that, should e-scooters be legalised in the long term, pavement use would remain prohibited to address concerns about enforcement and safety.
Department for Transport
View details
Government Response AI assessment · 27 of 21 classified
Accepted 13
Accepted in Part 4
Acknowledged 3
Deferred 3
Not Addressed 4
Total 21 recs + 6 conclusions
Correspondence 1 letter
13 Apr 2021 Correspondence from Rachel Maclean MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Transport, relating to e-scooters, dated 23 March 2021
Parliament page