Image: Bird
The Government has extended its official trials of rental e-scooters until March 2022, it has been reported.
The trials, which got underway in July 2020, are designed to help the Government assess the benefits of e-scooters – in particular their impact on public space, motor traffic, the environment and safety.
They were fast-tracked in a bid to ease pressure on public transport during the Covid-19 pandemic.
To date, approximately 50 towns and cities across the UK have launched e-scooter rental schemes, which were due to end in August this year.
However, the decision has been made to extend the trials until March 2022, reports the RAC, in a bid to enable the Government to gather the “most comprehensive evidence”.
The extension means legislation on the use of rental e-scooters is now unlikely to come into effect until mid-2023, the RAC notes.
The Department for Transport (DfT) said: “To ensure we get the most comprehensive evidence from trials, including those that have started more recently, the end date for trials has been extended to 31 March 2022.”
Watch out for flying cans being kicked down the road. Surely another sign that UK gov is looking to become a world-trailer on micro-mobility.
Rod King, Lymm
+2