Asked by: Bell Ribeiro-Addy (Labour - Clapham and Brixton Hill)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the use of (a) e-scooters and (b) e-bikes on pavements on pedestrians.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The use of e-scooters and e-bikes on pavements is unacceptable and can have serious impacts on pedestrians, both by causing injuries and by making it much harder for pedestrians to get about.
Privately owned e-scooters cannot be legally ridden either on roads or on pavements, and in the e-scooter rental trial schemes, the use of e-scooters on pavements is not allowed. Enforcement is a matter for the police.
The Highway Code makes clear that cyclists, including those riding e-bikes, must not cycle on the pavement. The only exception to this is on pavements that are designated as shared use routes, where the Highway Code says that cyclists should always take care when passing pedestrians, especially children, older or disabled people, and should allow them plenty of room. As above, enforcement is a matter for the police.
E-cycles or e-scooters parked obstructively on the pavement also present a safety risk to pedestrians, and particularly so for vulnerable pavement users such as those with visual impairments or mobility issues. Guidance for those operating the e-scooter trials makes clear that appropriate parking provision should be provided to ensure e-scooters do not cause an obstruction. Operators also use geofencing, parking incentives and penalties to prevent pavement riding and obstructive parking. The Government recently announced plans in the English Devolution White Paper to empower local leaders to regulate shared hire bike schemes to tackle issues such as obstructive pavement parking and antisocial behaviour.
Asked by: Bell Ribeiro-Addy (Labour - Clapham and Brixton Hill)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment has been made of the potential impact of closing train station ticket offices in Streatham on the (a) safety and (b) accessibility of passenger rail travel in London.
Answered by Huw Merriman
When proposing major changes to ticket office opening hours, including closures, operators are required to take into account the adequacy of the proposed alternatives in relation to the needs of all passengers; and to include this in the notice of the proposal sent to other operators and passenger groups. We would also expect operators to consider other equality related needs and make this clear in the notice sent to other operators and passenger groups.
Together with industry, we want to improve and modernise the passenger experience by moving staff out from ticket offices to provide more help and advice in customer focused roles. No currently staffed station will be unstaffed as a result of industry changes, and train operators will ensure staff are well located to meet passenger needs in future.
Asked by: Bell Ribeiro-Addy (Labour - Clapham and Brixton Hill)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has assessed the potential merits of simplifying the application process for renewing a Blue Badge.
Answered by Richard Holden - Opposition Whip (Commons)
The Department conducts an ongoing programme to identify ways to improve the Blue Badge scheme application and re-application process for all users, including acting on feedback from local authority administrators and citizen users of the scheme.
Asked by: Bell Ribeiro-Addy (Labour - Clapham and Brixton Hill)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on funding for active travel programmes in the UK.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The Department’s Ministers and officials have regular discussions with their counterparts in His Majesty’s Treasury on active travel programmes in England. Recent discussions have included the development of the second Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy (CWIS2) and Active Travel England’s delivery programme.
Asked by: Bell Ribeiro-Addy (Labour - Clapham and Brixton Hill)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the implications for its policies of Guide Dogs’ Scoot Aware report on the impact of e-scooters on people with visual impairments.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The Department has noted the Guide Dogs Scoot Aware report and officials met with Guide Dogs on 18 August 2022 to discuss the recommendations further. Reducing the impact of e-scooters on people with visual impairments, including their safe use and perceptions of safety, is a priority for the Department as we consider regulations for e-scooters. The Scoot Aware report is a useful guide and we will continue to engage with a range of stakeholders representing the needs of blind and visually impaired people, including through a public consultation, before any new arrangements come into force.
Asked by: Bell Ribeiro-Addy (Labour - Clapham and Brixton Hill)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has plans to bring forward legislative proposals for the regulation of rickshaw drivers.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
In England, outside of London, local authorities can regulate pedicabs as hackney carriages under existing legislation. The Government has committed to bringing forward measures that would enable TfL to regulate pedicabs in London through the upcoming Transport Bill. Should this Bill become law, it would be for TfL to determine the details of how any regulations would operate.
Asked by: Bell Ribeiro-Addy (Labour - Clapham and Brixton Hill)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what support his Department has in place for rickshaw drivers; and whether he has plans to increase that support.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
In England, outside of London, local authorities can regulate pedicabs as hackney carriages under existing legislation. The Government has committed to bringing forward measures that would enable TfL to regulate pedicabs in London through the upcoming Transport Bill. Should this Bill become law, it would be for TfL to determine the details of how any regulations would operate.
Asked by: Bell Ribeiro-Addy (Labour - Clapham and Brixton Hill)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the timeliness of his Department's responses to casework enquires sent by hon. Members to the DVLA.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) aims to answer correspondence from hon. Members within eight working days.
The DVLA has allocated extra resource to the teams that deal with these enquiries, and this is showing a continued improving picture. In May 2022, the DVLA answered 60.1 per cent of correspondence from hon. Members within eight working days. The DVLA also offers hon. Members a dedicated phone line which often negates the need for written correspondence.
Asked by: Bell Ribeiro-Addy (Labour - Clapham and Brixton Hill)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what target his Department has for the time taken to reply to casework enquiries sent by hon. Members to the DVLA.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) aims to answer correspondence from hon. Members within eight working days.
The DVLA has allocated extra resource to the teams that deal with these enquiries, and this is showing a continued improving picture. In May 2022, the DVLA answered 60.1 per cent of correspondence from hon. Members within eight working days. The DVLA also offers hon. Members a dedicated phone line which often negates the need for written correspondence.
Asked by: Bell Ribeiro-Addy (Labour - Clapham and Brixton Hill)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent estimate she has made of the average time taken by her Department to respond to casework enquiries sent by hon. Members to the DVLA.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) aims to answer correspondence from hon. Members within eight working days.
The DVLA has allocated extra resource to the teams that deal with these enquiries, and this is showing a continued improving picture. In May 2022, the DVLA answered 60.1 per cent of correspondence from hon. Members within eight working days. The DVLA also offers hon. Members a dedicated phone line which often negates the need for written correspondence.