Written question asked by Lord Blencathra (Conservative) on Friday, 18 September 2020, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Friday, 2 October 2020. It was answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton (Conservative) on Friday, 2 October 2020 on behalf of the Department for Transport.

Electric Scooters: Coventry and Middlesbrough

Question: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports of issues with the use of e-scooters in (1) Coventry, and (2) Middlesbrough; and what plans they have to pause the e-scooter rental trials until appropriate safeguards are introduced to protect pedestrians.

Answer: There are no plans to pause national e-scooter trials, which are absolutely essential if we are to fully assess this new mode and inform longer term micromobility policy. Officials are in close and regular contact with local authorities and e-scooter operators in live e-scooter trial areas. We are encouraging rapid action be taken to respond to operational issues as soon as they arise and ensuring that any lessons from early implementation are applied in subsequent trials. For example, issues which arose during the first week of the Middlesbrough trial, caused by a small minority of users, were quickly resolved with licence verification software and improved geo-fencing technology.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: HL8271
Session: 2019-21
Subjects: Hire services Pilot schemes Pedestrians Safety Coventry Middlesbrough Electric scooters
Link: View this Written question on www.parliament.uk