Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps to (a) prohibit pavement parking that restricts the mobility of disabled and elderly pavement users and (b) develop standards where (i) cycle and e-scooter parking and (ii) electric vehicle charging points are accessible but located off the pavement.

The Department consulted on measures to address pavement parking and received over 15,000 responses. Ministers are carefully considering the options in the light of the consultation findings. We will publish the formal consultation response and announce next steps as soon as possible.

The Department’s cycle infrastructure design guidance published in July 2020 (Local Transport Note 1/20) provides advice and best practice to local authorities on provision of cycle parking and storage. This is supplemented by the Bicycle Association and Cycle Rail Working Group (CRWG) quality and security standard for public cycle parking which was published in June 2021.

Local authorities are responsible for the running of e-scooter trials, this can include limiting the number of e-scooters that are available, prohibiting them from some areas, and specifying where they should be parked or docked. We have provided guidance for local authorities which can be viewed at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/e-scooter-trials-guidance-for-local-areas-and-rental-operators/e-scooter-trials-guidance-for-local-areas-and-rental-operators.

In this guidance, the Department clarifies that there needs to be sufficient parking provision in trial areas and that where a dockless operating model is being used, local authorities should ensure that e-scooters do not become obstructive to other road users and pedestrians, particularly those with disabilities.

In partnership with national disability charity Motability, the Department has commissioned the British Standards Institution (BSI) to develop accessibility standards for EV chargepoints across the country. These standards will provide industry with guidance and drivers with a new clear definition of ‘fully accessible’, ‘partially accessible’ and ‘not accessible’ public EV chargepoints.