Will the UK government’s ‘Future of Transport’ consultation result in electric scooter legalisation before 2021?

Will the UK government’s ‘Future of Transport’ consultation result in electric scooter legalisation before 2021?

The UK has long been at the forefront of transport innovations which have changed the way we move around the world. The passenger railway, the commercial jet airliner and the underground metro system were all life-changing inventions birthed here.

But technology is always advancing and, as much as the Government wants the UK to remain a world leader in transportation, abiding by regulations as archaic as the Highway Act of 1835 is not exactly maintaining that momentum. But without change, Britain will not keep up with the rest of the world in adopting cleaner, cheaper and more convenient forms of travel.

To address the overdue need for regulatory change, the UK Department for Transport has recently finally announced a ‘Future of Transport’ regulatory review to be conducted during 2020, beginning with the public consultation which launched in March. The Government will look into the following four main areas:

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What does the consultation mean for electric scooters?

Despite its claim to being ‘the world’s greatest transport innovator’, Britain is seriously lagging behind most other Western countries in adopting micromobility – it is in fact the last major European economy to legislate the use of these vehicles in its streets. Interestingly, the UK government wants transport to be cleaner, safer, healthier, greener, cheaper, more convenient and more inclusive. Is it just us, or doesn’t that sound a lot like the description of an electric scooter?

The DfT acknowledges the benefits micromobility vehicles offer – such as improved transportation choice, accessibility, environmental benefits, reduced congestion and integrated journeys – and aims to more specifically explore how to safely regulate electric scooters and other micromobility vehicles such as hoverboards and e-skateboards. We’re delighted they can finally see the value these personal light electric vehicles (PLEVs) would add to the lives of individuals and to society as a whole.

Given that safety has been a recurring concern regularly voiced by the press and pedestrian associations, safety rightfully forms a significant part of the review. The key aspects the assessors will consider when it comes to regulating micromobility vehicles include:

  • Vehicle standards
  • Speed limits and motor power restrictions
  • User requirements
  • Road use and parking
  • Rental service providers

The Government also wants to trial electric scooters in the UK to collect live evidence on how well these new technologies work, as well as on their impact on road users. The trials were originally limited to four designated ‘Future of Transport’ zones: Bristol & Bath, Portsmouth & Southampton, Derby & Nottingham, and the West Midlands. But recently the Government announced that these trials will be expanded across the whole country and could start as soon as June 2020. In order to make this possible, the Government will have to pass secondary legislation so that electric scooters can be lawfully trialled, however it has not made clear how this process will occur.

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User requirements

1. Insurance and vehicle registration: Although it’s not what Taur’s business is about, a few months ago we managed to get a Xiaomi M365 e-scooter through the rigorous tests comprising the DfT registration process (see previous and following pictures), making it the first one ever to be legally approved for use on UK roads. The exercise required several major upgrades to the vehicle, which, like most available models, wasn’t sufficiently roadworthy nor safe to pass the MoT. So we understand first-hand how burdensome this process would be for both users of popular e-scooter models and for those overseeing the regulations. E-bikes are not subject to these requirements, so we think e-scooters shouldn't be either.
2. Helmets: As with bikes, and as we mentioned in our previous post Do I need to wear a helmet when riding an electric scooter?, the most sensible thing for people to do is to always wear helmets. Yet we don’t believe it should be compulsory to do so – especially if the e-scooter's speed is restricted to 15.5mph. Making helmet use compulsory would dissuade occasional users and may also prove difficult for rental operators to enforce.
3. Age requirements: E-bike users must be over 14 years old to ride legally. E-scooters are also powered vehicles operating on the road, so we support the same age threshold being applied to electric scooter users.
4. Road use: Operating on pavements puts both e-scooter riders and pedestrians at risk. As with bikes, we support the use of electric scooters only in cycle lanes and on other suitable public highways.

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Conclusion

Conclusion
In the ‘Future of Transport Regulatory Review’ document, the DfT claims that the UK government has always embraced change and declares its intention to stimulate innovation and enable it to thrive. However, unless legislators are able to quickly grasp this opportunity and jump aboard the micromobility revolution, the UK will continue to lag behind.

But the first step to moving forward is getting the conversation started and we are glad that this initiative has finally taken place. Electric scooters and other PLEVs can lead the transition to zero emissions, potentially playing a key role in the UK achieving its 2050 new zero target – but only if the Government takes action sooner rather than later by introducing sensible legislation.

We have submitted evidence to the DfT’s call to make a case for the benefits to society, the environment and the economy that introducing electric scooters to UK streets can bring. If you want to have your say in this historical moment and join the conversation too, you can do so here.

Taur®

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