Hello from the Electric Travels Team!
From the 7th of June 2021 rental Electric Scooters will be legally allowed on public roads and cycleways (not on footways) in a small number of London Borough's.
Transport for London (TFL) have confirmed a 12 month trial set to take place. In order to enable a better understanding of how Electric Scooters can be used safely in public spaces and to encourage steps towards a greener future, by exploring cleaner ways to travel. This is crucial as currently, "99% of Londoners live in an area where pollution exceeds guidelines recommended by the World Health Organization".
Furthermore, Will Norman, London's walking and cycling commissioner, stated: "We want to ensure a green, sustainable recovery from coronavirus, and e-scooters are an alternative to cars that could help with this.
"The safety of those using e-scooters, as well as other road users and pedestrians, is absolutely paramount, so it's important that they are trialled in this rigorous way to ensure high standards."
TFL have equally expressed a consideration for safety, stating that they are "making safety a priority". Ensuring that first time riders will have to take an e-learning safety course before hiring.
The firms selected to facilitate this trial are Lime, Dott and TIER. Here is a list of the safety requirements:
- A lower maximum speed limit of 12.5mph
- Lights at the front and rear of the vehicles should remain on for the duration of the rental
- Audible warning systems that can be used without adjusting the rider's grip of the handlebars
Between 50-160 E-scooters will be available to rent in each participating borough with designated parking spaces, and rides can only end once parked in these bays.
These are the boroughs participating from the 7th of June:
- Ealing
- Canary Wharf
- The City of London
- Hammersmith and Fulham
- The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
- Richmond upon Thames
We hope the trial is a positive step towards finding a cleaner way to travel.
For further information please visit: https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/electric-scooter-rental-trial
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