The Government has announced that trials of rental e-scooter schemes can continue until May 2024, a move which has sparked outrage among a charity which represents blind and visually impaired people.
The trials, which got underway in July 2020, were set to end this November.
However, responding to a parliamentary question, transport minister Trudy Harrison confirmed they can now run until May 2024, should local authorities wish to extend them.
The move only applies to existing trials.
Trudy Harrison said: “The Government has decided to allow current e-scooter trials, which are live in 30 areas across England, to be extended.
“The existing trials will continue to run until 30 November and participating local authorities will then have the option to end their local trial or extend it to 31 May 2024.
“Extensions will be restricted to existing trial areas only and will allow us to gather further evidence where gaps are identified, building on the findings of the current evaluation. We hope that all areas will want to continue, but there is no compulsion.”
The trials were launched in bid to ease pressure on public transport during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The two years they have operated have done little to reassure critics about their safety.
DfT data shows there were 1,359 casualties in collisions involving e-scooters, compared to 484 in 2020.
One of the leading voices against the introduction of e-scooters is the National Federation of Blind UK (NFBUK).
Reacting to the extension of the trials, they are calling on the Government to “get a grip on the dangers of e-scooters”.
Sarah Gayton, the NFBUK’s shared space coordinator, said: “It is clear the DfT is treating the public with contempt and is making the decision to extend the trials with zero public scrutiny. This approach is not safe at all.
“The e-scooters are getting more priority than the safety, accessibility and wellbeing of pedestrians, especially pedestrians who are blind and visually impaired and use mobility aids like white canes and guide dogs, as well as vulnerable pedestrians like older people and small children.
“The safety risk of the riders is also not being made public and riders are still not being made to wear helmets in the trials even though the risks of serious head injuries are well documented.”
It’s an outrage that the government has extended the trials and announced it intends to legalise e-scooters but failed to publish any of the monitoring data on the trials, promised last year. Meanwhile, it puts all the responsibility on the police and others to prevent private use.
https://www.pacts.org.uk/the-safety-of-private-e-scooters-in-the-uk-pacts-research/
David Davies
+4
In reply to David Weston, the PACTS research shows why e-scooters are not like bicycles in important safety aspects and need separate regulation.
https://www.pacts.org.uk/the-safety-of-private-e-scooters-in-the-uk-pacts-research/
David Davies
+4
The Government has again demonstrated that it is not listening at all to the genuine fears of disabled, elderly and vulnerable pedestrians. Our lives are being disrupted daily by these e-scooters – rented and private, that repeatedly traumatise us as they whiz by us on the pavements.
A local Liverpool City Councillor commented that e-scooters are wonderful and that there have been “very few incidences”. That is completely untrue – I see and experience numerous incidences caused by the private and rental e-scooters every time I pluck up courage to venture out to the local shops. Near misses; children riding the e-scooters; two people on one scooter. Repeated near misses are hugely traumatic to pedestrians’ mental health and confidence. We can no longer enjoy a walk along our pavements; our social life suffers and our mental and physical health is badly impacted through lack of the walking exercise that we once enjoyed.
Nearly 100 emails have passed between VOI and me as I’ve submitted constant complaints. Their template responses vary; Last time – when I reported two riders on one scooter causing danger in a pedestrian area VOI asked me: “How was your experience with Voi based on your last ride?”
Christina Young, Liverpool
+10
Just make them be legislatively equivalent with bicycles already.
It’s not that hard.
David Weston, Newcastle upon Tyne
0