As you will be aware, the Department for Transport (DfT) is running a series of electric scooter trials in select areas across the country. The trials will run for twelve months, allowing the Government to investigate the true benefits and costs of electric scooters. E-scooters could ease the burden on the transport network and, considering the pandemic, help to facilitate social distancing. However, the Government will scrutinise the full impact of electric scooters before any decision is made on whether they should be legalised.
Some councils have raised concerns about the trials after reports of misuse of scooters, such as use in pedestrianised areas. This is against the clear government guidance first published in July, which lists the rules for members of the general public who are using e-scooters as part of trials. The full list of guidelines can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/e-scooter-trials-guidance-for-users
You may be aware that is illegal for e-scooters to be used on public roads other than as part of the Government approved e-scooter trials. I understand that police in local areas across the country have a range of sanctions at their disposal to address illegal e-scooter use, including on the spot fines and placing points on any licence held by the user.
I appreciate that people with disabilities, especially those who are blind and visually impaired, can be more greatly affected by some of the negative impacts of electric scooter use. It is important that our streets are as accessible as possible, and I welcome that the Department for Transport has carried out a preliminary assessment of the impacts of e-scooters on blind people. While there is currently limited evidence available, the current trials have been designed to enable the Government to gather robust and comprehensive evidence of the impact of e-scooters on all road users.
As the trials continue to run, the Department has taken into account the possible implications for visually impaired people, and have attempted to minimise these through measures such as: not allowing e-scooter on pavements, and asking local authorities to consider in their trial plans ways to avoid e-scooters creating an obstruction when not in use.
My Ministerial colleagues have been clear that more robust initial launch plans must be put in place for future trials, and the Department for Transport is using this feedback to help other trials to avoid these issues.