London is currently hosting a trial of rental e-scooters. Image: TfL
The Capital’s trial of rental e-scooter schemes, which was set to end next month, has been extended until 20 November.
The move, announced by TfL and London Councils on 19 May, hopes to ‘allow the trial to build on its successes and further explore how e-scooters could play a role in a sustainable transport network’.
Will Norman, London’s walking and cycling commissioner, said: “London’s e-scooter trial has proven to be very popular… so I am pleased that TfL and London Councils have been able to extend the trial to November.
“Ensuring a green, sustainable future for London is a top priority – with the right regulations that prioritise safety, e-scooters are an alternative to cars that could help us get there.”
London’s trial launched in June 2021 and has expanded significantly since then, with ten boroughs, more than 500 designated parking locations and 4,100 e-scooter vehicles now involved.
Since the launch, more than one million journeys have been made across the three operators taking part in London’s trial – Dott, Lime and TIER. These journeys cover a total of more than 2.5 million kilometres, with April being the busiest month so far for the trial.
Thousands of users have also benefited from the operators’ discount schemes, which make the rental vehicles more affordable for people on low incomes and with disabilities.
Meanwhile, TfL and London Councils have welcomed the Government’s move to begin the process of legalising privately-owned e-scooters.
They say the development has the potential to make important improvements to the safety of private e-scooters, which are not presently regulated.
24 May 2022