Source · Select Committees · Transport Committee
Third Report: E-scooters: pavement nuisance or transport innovation?
Transport Committee
HC 255
Published 2 October 2020
Government response
Third Special Report - E-scooters: pavement nuisance or transport innovation?: Government Response to Committee’s Third Report of Session 2019–21 · published 14 Dec 2020
Recommendations & Conclusions
1
Recommendation
Accepted in Part
Para 16
Privately owned e-scooters are already a familiar sight in many British towns and cities, despite...
Recommendation
Privately owned e-scooters are already a familiar sight in many British towns and cities, despite remaining illegal to use on roads and pavements. They have the potential to offer a low cost, accessible and environmentally friendly alternative to the private …
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Government Response Summary
The government partly agrees, stating that developing a regulatory framework is a priority, but actual decisions and legislation are deferred until after the evaluation of e-scooter trials to fully understand their impacts.
Department for Transport
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2
Conclusion
Accepted in Part
We welcome the Department’s work to examine the legal status of e-scooters.
Conclusion
We welcome the Department’s work to examine the legal status of e-scooters. The review of micro-mobility transport and the introduction of rental e-scooter trials will allow important evidence and data to be gathered to help determine the best way to …
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Government Response Summary
The government partly agrees, acknowledging the priority of an effective regulatory framework. However, they state that fully understanding the impacts of e-scooters through trial evaluations is a necessary prior stage before making long-term legislative decisions.
Department for Transport
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7
Recommendation
Accepted in Part
Para 50
It is unfortunate that, due to a legal technicality, users of rental e-scooters in the...
Recommendation
It is unfortunate that, due to a legal technicality, users of rental e-scooters in the Government’s trials are required to have a driving licence. People without driving licences ought to be a key target demographic for the rental schemes, yet …
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Government Response Summary
The government partly agrees, noting the driving licence requirement is due to existing legislation. They state they will consider all trial evidence before making specific decisions on this matter, should e-scooters be legalised in the long term.
Department for Transport
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21
Recommendation
Accepted in Part
Para 122
We recommend that local authorities involved with the trials make it a condition that e-scooter...
Recommendation
We recommend that local authorities involved with the trials make it a condition that e-scooter companies seeking to participate operate in an environmentally sustainable way, both in terms of the design lifetime of their scooters and the processes used to …
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Government Response Summary
The government partly agrees, noting that while local areas were requested to consider environmental objectives in trials, it was not a condition set by the government. They state that environmental sustainability will be a key consideration if e-scooters are legalised long-term, and environmental impacts are being monitored as part of the trial evaluation.
Department for Transport
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