POLICING E-SCOOTERS — ARE THEY LEGAL? What are e-scooters? E-scooters are battery-powered personal transport devices that appear to offer solutions to a wide range of transport policy goals. Manufacturers claim that e-scooters could help to reduce congestion and improve air quality by getting people out of their cars, while supporting first and last mile transport to and from public transport terminals. For instance, e-scooter ride sharing apps have been launched in many cities around Europe as an offshoot of the now familiar cycle-hire sharing schemes seen in London and the rest of the UK. E-scooters could also offer a simple and cheap means to get around for those less physically able or mobile.
Are e-scooters legal in the UK? While it is legal to buy or sell an e-scooter, riding them on public roads, pavements or cycle lanes is against the law.
E-scooters are classed as a ‘powered transporter’ and are covered by the same laws and regulations that apply to all motor vehicles. As such, e-scooters would need to meet the different requirements (e.g. road tax, technical safety standards) of the Road Traffic Act 1988 to use public roads lawfully. Currently, e-scooters on the market cannot do so. Gov.uk says that if manufacturers think their design does meet all the technical requirements needed for power transporters, they can submit it to the Driver and 31
