Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he plans to take in response to the effect of the covid-19 lockdown on the quantity of data gathered during e-scooter trials.

The Department recognises that COVID-19 lockdowns have reduced the number of journeys being taken across all modes of transport and in the e-scooter trials. However, data is being gathered from over 30 trial areas across England over the course of 12 months. We expect the quantity of data gathered during the e-scooter trials to be sufficient to inform future decisions on whether and - if so - how to legalise e-scooters in the UK.

DfT has data sharing agreements in place with e-scooter operators taking part in the trials. We are also working with our third-party research contractors Arup and NatCen Social Research to ensure the data gathered through the trials is robust enough to answer our planned research and policy questions.

With regard to pavement riding, the Department is working closely with both e-scooter operators and local authorities on these issues. In addition to weekly meetings to monitor the progress of the trials, including rates of pavement riding, pavement parking and approaches to reducing them, we are currently finalising guidance for local authorities to encourage good parking behaviour.

Moreover, surveys and interviews, with e-scooter users and members of the public living in e-scooter trial areas, will be conducted across a range of trial areas to track and understand instances of pavement riding and pavement parking. This will be carried out by our contractors Arup and NatCen Social Research.