Asked by: Andrew Lewer (Conservative - Northampton South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps to ensure that the deadline for the end of e-scooter trials is not extended any further.
Answered by Anthony Browne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government plans to legislate to regulate micromobility when parliamentary time allows. The trials continue to provide helpful information to inform that process.
Asked by: Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to issuing guidance on the placement and design of (1) electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and (2) micromobility parking provision.
Answered by Lord Davies of Gower - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
All EV drivers should be able to easily find public chargepoints they can use, and accessibility should be embedded in public chargepoint design from the outset. The Government and industry sponsored, Publicly Available Standard (PAS) 1899 provides specifications on the placement, design and installation of accessible public EV chargepoints.
The Government has extended its e-scooter trials until May 2026 to enable us to build on current learning across areas including usage, safety, parking provision and environmental impacts. The Department’s guidance for local authorities and operators taking part in trials sets out that appropriate parking provision should be provided to ensure e-scooters do not become obstructive.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report commissioned by the Local Government Association The path to inclusive footways, published on 10 February; and what steps they are taking to ensure that (1) electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and (2) micromobility parking provision, do not obstruct footways.
Answered by Lord Davies of Gower - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government’s Electric Vehicle (EV) Infrastructure Strategy, published in March 2022, outlined that local authorities are best placed to understand what charging infrastructure is required, and have a key role in ensuring the delivery of chargepoints meets the needs of their areas. The Government and industry sponsored, Publicly Available Standard (PAS) 1899 provides specifications on the placement, design and installation of accessible public EV chargepoints.
Cross-pavement cable solutions can be used to channel EV charging wires across the pavement safely. As part of the Plan for Drivers, the Government committed to provide guidance on the use of safe cross-pavement charging solutions, best practice to local authorities on relevant legislation, permissions, and how to consider applications.
The Government has extended its e-scooter trials until May 2026 to build on current learning across areas including usage, safety, parking provision and environmental impacts. The Department’s guidance for local authorities and operators taking part in trials sets out that appropriate parking provision should be provided to ensure e-scooters do not become obstructive.
Asked by: Caroline Dinenage (Conservative - Gosport)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 28 November 2023 to Question 3453 on Motorcycles: Carbon Emissions, what progress he has made on delivering powered light vehicle action plan items (a) 1, (b) 4, (c) 5, (d) 7, (e) 8 and (f) 10.
Answered by Anthony Browne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government continues to engage with industry to deliver the Motorcycle Industry Association and Zemo Partnership’s Action Plan where appropriate.
On action 1, pressures on the legislative timetable mean that Government is not planning to legislate for micromobility in the Fourth Session but remains committed to obtaining further evidence for future legislation to strengthen the evidence base.
On action 4, the plug-in motorcycle grant, introduced in 2017 to stimulate the early market for zero emission mopeds and motorcycles, has provided over £8m to support the purchase of over 12,000 zero emission mopeds and motorcycles.
On action 5, Government recently worked with the Energy Saving Trust to promote zero emission L-category vehicles to consumers and businesses where they had potential to significantly decarbonise personal transport and light freight, enabling people to choose how best to make journeys.
On action 7, the Government published its Future of Transport Rural Transport Innovation guidance in November 2023. This set out how innovative new transport technologies and services can help local authorities respond to rural-specific transport challenges, as well as making up to £3 million available for local authorities to trial and test these technologies.
On action 8, the Department will continue to engage with Local Authorities to help support them decarbonise their transport systems.
On action 10, as the zero-emission powered light vehicle sector grows, Government will continue to work with the sector to support and consider how to best overcome demand side challenges, including the infrastructure needs of these vehicles.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of taking steps to help increase domestic micro-mobility (a) research and (b) manufacturing.
Answered by Andrew Griffith - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Micromobility vehicles are zero emission, small, convenient and cheap compared to cars and present an opportunity for British businesses to create new products with global appeal. That is why Innovate UK and the Connected Place Catapult co-founded and created the Micro-Mobility forum, helping to maximise the industrial and economic opportunity of micro mobility for the UK. Innovate UK commissioned research published in April 2021: “Micromobility in the UK: Assessing the innovation opportunity”. In 2022, The High Value Manufacturing Catapult published Micromobility - a UK Roadmap
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Government’s evaluation of the e-scooter trials, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of escooter use on Government targets relating to (a) carbon emissions and (b) active travel.
Answered by Jesse Norman
His Majesty The King will set out the Government's legislative agenda for the next parliamentary session on 7 November.
The Government recognises that people want to take advantage of the opportunities e-scooters can offer. The Department is committed to encouraging innovation in transport, whilst ensuring new modes of transport are safe and secure by design.
There are several potential benefits to micromobility vehicles. They offer an alternative means of transport to those who would usually drive a car, and they could be an additional means of transport for people with certain disabilities.
E-scooters are less polluting than petrol and diesel powered vehicles at point of use. Therefore, using an e-scooter instead of driving is expected to reduce emissions and improve air quality. The Department’s national evaluation of the e-scooter trials estimated a total reduction between 269 to 348 tonnes of CO2e (to December 2021) across five case study areas due to modal shift from cars to rental e-scooters. However, more data needs to be gathered to understand lifecycle emissions of rental e-scooters.
The Department is aware of the observed mode shift from active travel to micromobility in the trials. The evaluation found that by December 2021 rental e-scooter journeys most commonly replaced walking journeys (42 per cent), followed by private motor vehicles or taxis (21 per cent). However, the proportion of walking journeys replaced reduced over time, while the proportion of private motor vehicle or taxi journeys being replaced increased over time. The evaluation also found that frequent rental users were less likely to have travelled by foot in the absence of a rental e-scooter than infrequent users.
Users of e-scooters in current trials are required to have a provisional driving licence. The Department is currently considering options for e-scooter regulations and will publicly consult before any new regulations come into force, including on licensing.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with the Leader of the House on parliamentary time for legislation on e-scooters.
Answered by Jesse Norman
His Majesty The King will set out the Government's legislative agenda for the next parliamentary session on 7 November.
The Government recognises that people want to take advantage of the opportunities e-scooters can offer. The Department is committed to encouraging innovation in transport, whilst ensuring new modes of transport are safe and secure by design.
There are several potential benefits to micromobility vehicles. They offer an alternative means of transport to those who would usually drive a car, and they could be an additional means of transport for people with certain disabilities.
E-scooters are less polluting than petrol and diesel powered vehicles at point of use. Therefore, using an e-scooter instead of driving is expected to reduce emissions and improve air quality. The Department’s national evaluation of the e-scooter trials estimated a total reduction between 269 to 348 tonnes of CO2e (to December 2021) across five case study areas due to modal shift from cars to rental e-scooters. However, more data needs to be gathered to understand lifecycle emissions of rental e-scooters.
The Department is aware of the observed mode shift from active travel to micromobility in the trials. The evaluation found that by December 2021 rental e-scooter journeys most commonly replaced walking journeys (42 per cent), followed by private motor vehicles or taxis (21 per cent). However, the proportion of walking journeys replaced reduced over time, while the proportion of private motor vehicle or taxi journeys being replaced increased over time. The evaluation also found that frequent rental users were less likely to have travelled by foot in the absence of a rental e-scooter than infrequent users.
Users of e-scooters in current trials are required to have a provisional driving licence. The Department is currently considering options for e-scooter regulations and will publicly consult before any new regulations come into force, including on licensing.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of requiring e-scooter users to be licensed.
Answered by Jesse Norman
His Majesty The King will set out the Government's legislative agenda for the next parliamentary session on 7 November.
The Government recognises that people want to take advantage of the opportunities e-scooters can offer. The Department is committed to encouraging innovation in transport, whilst ensuring new modes of transport are safe and secure by design.
There are several potential benefits to micromobility vehicles. They offer an alternative means of transport to those who would usually drive a car, and they could be an additional means of transport for people with certain disabilities.
E-scooters are less polluting than petrol and diesel powered vehicles at point of use. Therefore, using an e-scooter instead of driving is expected to reduce emissions and improve air quality. The Department’s national evaluation of the e-scooter trials estimated a total reduction between 269 to 348 tonnes of CO2e (to December 2021) across five case study areas due to modal shift from cars to rental e-scooters. However, more data needs to be gathered to understand lifecycle emissions of rental e-scooters.
The Department is aware of the observed mode shift from active travel to micromobility in the trials. The evaluation found that by December 2021 rental e-scooter journeys most commonly replaced walking journeys (42 per cent), followed by private motor vehicles or taxis (21 per cent). However, the proportion of walking journeys replaced reduced over time, while the proportion of private motor vehicle or taxi journeys being replaced increased over time. The evaluation also found that frequent rental users were less likely to have travelled by foot in the absence of a rental e-scooter than infrequent users.
Users of e-scooters in current trials are required to have a provisional driving licence. The Department is currently considering options for e-scooter regulations and will publicly consult before any new regulations come into force, including on licensing.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment has he made of the potential merits of allowing privately owned scooters.
Answered by Jesse Norman
His Majesty The King will set out the Government's legislative agenda for the next parliamentary session on 7 November.
The Government recognises that people want to take advantage of the opportunities e-scooters can offer. The Department is committed to encouraging innovation in transport, whilst ensuring new modes of transport are safe and secure by design.
There are several potential benefits to micromobility vehicles. They offer an alternative means of transport to those who would usually drive a car, and they could be an additional means of transport for people with certain disabilities.
E-scooters are less polluting than petrol and diesel powered vehicles at point of use. Therefore, using an e-scooter instead of driving is expected to reduce emissions and improve air quality. The Department’s national evaluation of the e-scooter trials estimated a total reduction between 269 to 348 tonnes of CO2e (to December 2021) across five case study areas due to modal shift from cars to rental e-scooters. However, more data needs to be gathered to understand lifecycle emissions of rental e-scooters.
The Department is aware of the observed mode shift from active travel to micromobility in the trials. The evaluation found that by December 2021 rental e-scooter journeys most commonly replaced walking journeys (42 per cent), followed by private motor vehicles or taxis (21 per cent). However, the proportion of walking journeys replaced reduced over time, while the proportion of private motor vehicle or taxi journeys being replaced increased over time. The evaluation also found that frequent rental users were less likely to have travelled by foot in the absence of a rental e-scooter than infrequent users.
Users of e-scooters in current trials are required to have a provisional driving licence. The Department is currently considering options for e-scooter regulations and will publicly consult before any new regulations come into force, including on licensing.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has had discussions with relevant stakeholders on the potential merits of banning silent e-scooters.
Answered by Jesse Norman
Only e-scooters in Government-approved rental trials can be used legally.
Private e-scooters remain illegal to use on all public roads, cycle lanes and pavements, and rental e-scooters can only be used in national rental e-scooter trial areas. E-scooter trials are currently live in 23 areas across England and will run until 31 May 2024.
Safety for road users and pedestrians will always be a priority for the Department. In the guidance for the trials provided by the Department, it is advised that local authorities should ensure e-scooters do not become obstructive to pedestrians. The Department also recognises e-scooters may pose a particular challenge to those with disabilities. Operators and local authorities participating in the trials have been working with organisations representing disabled groups, such as the Royal National Institute of Blind People. Some of the outcomes have been designing parking racks, improved rider education and training, as well as a mandatory requirement for all e-scooters in the trial to be fitted with a horn or bell to warn other road users of their approach.
All e-scooters in the rental trials must have a horn or bell to warn other road users of their approach. Operators are also exploring installing sound or replicating artificial engine noise on their trial e-scooters to assist with detection.
Statistics on personal injury collisions involving e-scooters in Great Britain reported by police via the STATS19 system are available from 2020, with the latest provisional statistics for 2022. The number of reported injury collisions involving at least one e-scooter, involving a pedestrian casualty, or more than one vehicle, are shown in the table below.
Please note that a collision could involve both pedestrian casualties and multiple vehicles, in which case it could be counted more than once in the table. Statistics on collisions involving uninjured pedestrians are not collected.
Year | Total e-scooter collisions | Involving at least one pedestrian casualty | Involving another vehicle |
2020 | 460 | 57 | 377 |
2021 | 1352 | 227 | 1028 |
2022 (provisional) | 1369 | 226 | 1027 |
The Department has published an evaluation of the e-scooter trials covering the period from July 2020 to December 2021. This provided an assessment of the impact of our policies on trends in usage, including trip numbers. The evaluation findings are available here: www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-evaluation-of-e-scooter-trials-report.
As part of the trials evaluation, the Department has gathered information about modal shift. While the evaluation found that rental e-scooter journeys most commonly replaced walking journeys (42%), followed by private motor vehicles or taxis (21%), the proportion of walking journeys being replaced reduced over time, while the proportion of private motor vehicle or taxi journeys being replaced increased over time.
Active travel is at the heart of the Government’s agenda, and it is investing more in it than any previous Government. The Department wants cycling and walking to be the natural first choice for shorter journeys, helping to improve air quality and health while reducing congestion on our roads. The Department has set an ambitious vision that by 2030, half of all journeys in towns and cities are cycled or walked.
The Department estimates that 2% (1,091,823 people) of adults, equivalent to one million people aged 16+, owned an e-scooter in England as of June 20221 . This figure is from the Transport and Technology Tracker (June 2022; base = 3162). A 95 % confidence interval gives a range of 847,660 - 1,335,986 people age 16+ who own an e-scooter in England.
The Department is currently considering options for e-scooter regulations that would be enabled by new primary legislation for micromobility vehicles, which the Government intends to introduce when parliamentary time allows.
No decisions have been made, and we will consult on any new regulations before they come into force so that all interested parties have a chance to shape the new regime.