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.

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.