Image: TfL
Data published by TfL shows fewer than 0.01% of trips taken as part of the Capital’s rental e-scooter trial have resulted in serious injury.
The data, which covers the first 18 months of the trial, also shows there have been no fatalities and 22 serious injuries reported by its operators.
Meanwhile, operators reported that during the first phase of the trial, more than 95% of trips complied with rules around parking.
TfL says e-scooters could “play an important role in ensuring a green and sustainable future for London”.
The trial was launched by TfL and London Councils in June 2021 – and is operated by Dott, Lime and TIER.
It has expanded significantly since then, with ten participating boroughs, more than 600 designated parking locations and more than 5,000 e-scooter vehicles now available for hire.
Since launching, more than 2.5 million journeys have been made, covering more than 6.46 million kilometres – the equivalent of travelling 161 times around the world. The average e-scooter trip duration was 17 minutes and the average distance travelled was 2.5km.
TfL says the trial has focussed on safety throughout and that it has taken steps to ensure the safety of anyone riding rental e-scooters and other members of the public.
The rental vehicles in London have safety standards which ‘go beyond the national standards’, including a speed limit of 12.5mph, larger wheels and lights that are always on throughout any rental.
Seb Dance, deputy mayor for transport, said: “I’m pleased to mark the second anniversary of London’s hugely popular e-scooter rental trial.
“We’ve been clear that the trial must be focussed on safety and support the mayor’s Vision Zero target to eliminate all deaths and serious injuries on London’s roads.”
TfL is working to finalise contracts for the next phase of the trial, following an open procurement process.
Helen Sharp, TfL’s e-scooter trial lead, said: “E-scooters could play an important role in ensuring a green and sustainable future for London and we are delighted to be celebrating the two-year anniversary of the London rental trial.
“We’re working closely with operators, councils and people across London to build on our plans for the next phase of the trial, which will help us build on its successes so far.
“We hope Londoners and visitors can continue to benefit from the trial and we will continue to use its data to learn more about the role e-scooters could play in helping people move around London sustainably.”
Picking up on Peter’s point: It is certainly worth comparing modes for risk per distance travelled. I also did some rough calculations using the risk per mile for bicycles published by the DfT. I chose bicycles as they are comparable in terms of speed, journey types, size and rider protection. This comparison showed London rental escooters at roughly 5.3 times more KSI per mile than bicycles. The risk data for bicycles is national and I believe cycling risk per mile in London is lower risk than the national average so the true ratio is likely something above 5.3. It is also worth noting that there have been fatalities recorded for privately owned (i.e. illegally operated) escooters.
I believe there is a place for escooters in the future of urban transport but at present the infrastructure for their safe usage does not cover enough of the network.
William Cubbin, Chelmsford
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The report notes rates of injury collisions but does not compare these to other modes (including bicycles) or other urban trial areas. My back off envelop calculation suggests riding a scooter in London is 84 times more risky per km than typical all-in risk per km of all modes across all GB roads. Something that should be advertised I suggest.
Peter Whitfield, Liverpool
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The statement “Meanwhile, operators reported that during the first phase of the trial, more than 95% of trips complied with rules around parking” is completely not true.
No mention of the number of accidents or the number of pedestrian injured.
No mention of riding on the footway or going through pedestrian crossings.
Furthermore, scooters are actually encouraged too scoot on the footway to and from the parking bays.
richard walker, LONDON
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