Government moves to extend rental e-scooter trials

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.”

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