Asked by: Royston Smith (Conservative - Southampton, Itchen)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, on what date the first e-scooter trials will begin.
Answered by Baroness Maclean of Redditch
The Department will soon make the legal changes to enable trials. We are working with local authorities to help them put in place plans for trials. Trials are likely to start in different areas at different times, starting in the next few weeks.
Asked by: Royston Smith (Conservative - Southampton, Itchen)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of e-scooters on capacity levels in (a) cycle lanes and (b) other under-used road infrastructure.
Answered by Baroness Maclean of Redditch
The Department has not assessed the effects of trials of e-scooters on the capacity of cycle lanes or under-used road infrastructure. There is limited evidence available about the impact of e-scooters on the road network. This is why we are preparing to start trials of e-scooters. The trials will allow us to gather evidence about the impacts of e-scooters including which parts of road space they may be used. This will inform future policy for e-scooters and other micromobility vehicles.
The Department has recently laid regulations which allow local authorities to make Emergency Traffic Regulation Orders for measures needed to deal with the effects of coronavirus. Alternative publicity arrangements are also now available for other types of Order. These regulations can be used to create new cycles lanes, which e-scooters could use.
Asked by: Royston Smith (Conservative - Southampton, Itchen)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate his Department has made of the number of car journeys that will replaced by the use of e-scooters in the upcoming trials.
Answered by Baroness Maclean of Redditch
There is limited evidence available about the impact of e-scooters on the road network. Recent evidence from European cities suggests around 15-20% of e-scooter journeys could replace journeys by car.
The trials will allow us to gather evidence about the impacts of e-scooters including what mode shift they cause. This will inform future policy for e-scooters and other micromobility vehicles.
Asked by: Royston Smith (Conservative - Southampton, Itchen)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what evidence his Department assessed when deciding to set the speed limit for e-scooters in forthcoming trials at 12.5mph.
Answered by Baroness Maclean of Redditch
The Department’s consultation on the rules for e-scooters proposed a speed limit of 12.5 mph. The Department considered evidence available from international organisations, published reports and considered the rules for e-scooter use in other countries. We also took account of the responses received from the Future of Transport regulatory review call for evidence. The proposed speed limit also directly influences what other rules should apply to the use of e-scooters.
There is limited evidence on the impact of different speed limits for e-scooters and a range of speed limits apply in other countries.
However, we are currently analysing the responses to the consultation.
The trials will allow us to gather evidence about the about the use of e-scooters and their effects on other road users. This will inform future policy for e-scooters and other micromobility vehicles.
Asked by: Royston Smith (Conservative - Southampton, Itchen)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what evidence his Department assessed when deciding to set the motor wattage for e-scooters in the forthcoming trials at 350W.
Answered by Baroness Maclean of Redditch
The Department’s consultation on the rules for e-scooters asked whether there should be a maximum power set for e-scooters and asked whether 350W is an appropriate limit. The Department has considered evidence available from international organisations, published reports and considered the rules for e-scooter use in other countries. We also took account of the responses received from the Future of Transport regulatory review call for evidence. The proposed power limit also directly influences what other rules should apply to the use of e-scooters.
There is limited evidence on the impact of different maximum power limits for e-scooters and a range of different power limits apply in other countries.
We are currently analysing the responses to the consultation.
The trials will allow us to gather evidence about the use of e-scooters and their effects on other road users. This will inform future policy for e-scooters and other micromobility vehicles.
Asked by: Royston Smith (Conservative - Southampton, Itchen)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans his Department has to ensure that roads are (a) accessible to and (b) safe for electric scooters.
Answered by George Freeman
We are considering this closely and recognise that people want to take advantage of the opportunities personal vehicles, such as electric scooters can offer. The Department for Transport is committed to encouraging innovation in transport as well as improving road safety, but new modes of transport must be safe and secure by design.
The Future of Mobility: Urban Strategy, published on 19 March 2019 includes a Regulatory Review to address the challenges of ensuring our transport infrastructure and regulation are fit for the future.
The Strategy can be found at:
www.gov.uk/government/publications/future-of-mobility-urban-strategy
The Department will use the Regulatory Review to examine current legislation and determine from the evidence what is needed to make the necessary changes for a safe and healthy future. One strand of this will look at options for enabling micromobility devices, and a consultation will be issued in due course.
Asked by: Royston Smith (Conservative - Southampton, Itchen)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to mitigate the effect on commuters of the strike on Southwestern Railway.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris
The Department has been in regular contact with SWR since the Industrial Action was announced by RMT, to ensure that SWR was taking all possible steps to mitigate the impact of the RMT’s disproportionate action on passengers and provide as many services and as much capacity as possible during the strikes.
Asked by: Royston Smith (Conservative - Southampton, Itchen)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that UK nationals driving their UK-registered vehicles abroad are provided with necessary legal resources to challenge driving offence charges issued against them.
Answered by Michael Ellis
The information requested is not held.
All drivers should adhere to the local traffic laws, wherever they drive. There is information available to drivers about driving abroad on www.gov.uk.