Why Is The UK So Far Behind On Electric Scooter Legalization?

We reveal just what's stopping the UK from embracing private e-scooters and allowing them on private roads

Electric scooters have become one of the favorite ways for environmentally conscious people to travel. They're more sustainable than cars and won't significantly dent your bank balance. Plus, they allow commuters to avoid the daily struggles of public transport.

Imagine stepping onto your electric scooter deck and cruising into work without battling through crowds of people, crammed into a bus or train with no notion of personal space (we've all been there).

Electric scooters give people a convenient, sustainable, cost-effective - and ultra-stylish way to travel. Finally.

Singapore, the USA, France, and Germany are just some of the countries that have embraced e-scooters with open arms. But when it comes to the UK, (one of the most forward-thinking countries in the world), people are still relying on the many scooter-sharing initiatives instead of being able to use their private e-scooters.

Why is the UK so far behind on scooter legislation? It's a question many people ask, and there are numerous reasons for the delay.

In this post, we'll look at the facts and discover why the UK is falling behind other countries. So, if you want to know when a privately owned e-scooter will finally be on roads around the UK, stick around - because we've got everything you need to know.

Where are private e-scooters legal?

In 2017, the streets of Santa Monica trialed the first e-scooter sharing initiative from manufacturer Bird. Despite worries from city officials, the scooters would soon prove to be a highly lucrative and practical addition to the city's many transportation options.

By 2018, David Martin (the city's Planning and Community Development director) announced the city would continue to trial electric scooters for 16 months under the new Shared Mobility Pilot Program.

The success of these initiatives would soon lead to other cities in the USA trialing the scooters and governments allowing people to use their private scooters (subject to each state's laws).

Scooters take over Europe

The UK's lack of movement on electric scooters is surprising because other European countries have embraced them. Private scooter riders are allowed to travel on roads or dedicated bike paths in:

• Belgium
• Germany
• France
• Spain
• Norway
• Sweden
• Estonia
• Finland
• Italy
• Croatia
• Austria

It's more common for privately owned e-scooters to be legal in Europe than not, but some countries are behind on the legislation.

So, why is the UK so slow to legalize private electric scooters?

When making electric scooters road legal, there are numerous obstacles to overcome as the UK has one of the world's most complex and well-developed legal frameworks (US News).

Parliament goes through a process when the proposal for new legislation becomes introduced. There are numerous stages to complete before the law becomes official (as you can see from the Gov.UK website).

Among the legal framework, other factors have also contributed to slowing down the progress of taking scooters off private land and onto roads or cycle lanes.

Let's take a look at them.

E-scooter trials

While the USA began its scooter-sharing trials in 2017 and other countries soon followed, the UK didn't announce the initiative until the 4th of July, 2020.

Before the trials began, Rachel Maclean released the following statement:

"As we emerge from lockdown, we have a unique opportunity in transport to build back in a greener, more sustainable way that could lead to cleaner air and healthier communities across Great Britain."

"E-scooters may offer the potential for convenient, clean, and cost-effective travel that may also help ease the burden on the transport network, provide another green alternative to get around, and allow for social distancing. The trials will allow us to test whether they do these things."

Before long, e-scooters began to appear in every major city, and many users' initial response was positive.

However, despite the idea that the trial would run for twelve months, then make a decision. Unfortunately, the government managed to drag its heels, resulting in over two years of trials.

The main reason for this delay is the lack of clarity surrounding powered transporters and how they relate to the current laws.

Powered transporters & motor vehicles

The UK government classed transporters as "novel devices for transportation propelled by a motor." Powered transporters can also have manual capabilities, and the term includes numerous devices, including Segways, electric scooters, hoverboards, and powered unicycles.

Unfortunately, despite their classification, there's no specific legislation regarding powered transporters, so e-scooters fall under the same category as other motor vehicles.

The 1988 Road Traffic Act states that motor vehicles must follow a strict set of rules regarding their use, and electric scooters fall under this category.

Due to the lack of legislation, it's only legal to use a private e-scooter if you have a license and insurance (which isn't yet possible). Because of this, British law states that people can only use their private scooters on private land, and if people want to commute, they have to use rental e-scooters.

Brexit

The ongoing saga of Brexit hit the UK hard, with many people not wanting the split to happen. Further to this, the delay through parliament and re-elections meant that the country was essentially put on hold for a while.

When the country finally stabilized in 2020, a new crisis hit, causing further delays in electric scooter trials and legislation. The Covid-19 pandemic also meant that the UK was slower to introduce e-scooter trials, which put the country behind others with pre-existing scooter trials.

The future of innovation in a post-Brexit Britain

While some people didn't agree with Brexit, the split from the European Union means that the country now has more control over its laws and money. One significant change is the transport bill that aims to reduce reliance on petrol and diesel cars by 2035.

Electric scooters play a vital role in the initiative, as they're more cost-effective than electric cars and ensure that people will be able to commute and travel without relying so much on public transport.

A new transport bill will legalize the use of e-scooters

To officially legalize electric scooters, the department for transport will have to design future regulations that accommodate scooter users. Under the new changes, e-scooters will fall under a zero-emission vehicle category that promotes the UK's drive towards lowering transport emissions.

Baroness Vere spoke in a parliament debate about whether the country should legalize electric scooters, urging her peers to follow the lead of other European countries and embrace private scooters as a future way to protect the planet and give people more flexibility.

While officials are yet to finalize the details, the new transport bill will ensure people can avoid short car journeys and take advantage of everything e-transport technology offers.

Potential restrictions for e-scooter users

Of course, the main issue with legalizing electric scooters is effectively addressing any safety concerns that other road users might have. Baroness Vere proposed numerous additions to the future laws that would promote safety.

They include:

• A maximum speed limit of 15.5 miles per hour
• No scooter use on pavements
• Provisional licenses for all users
• Lights for all scooters
• An alert device

While we'll have to wait and see what the laws become, the government will likely use the rental regulations as a baseline and build upon them.

Manufacturers will also have to be wary of the new laws, as scooters that don't meet the restrictions might not be deemed road worthy.

Will private models prove to be more successful than rental e-scooters?

New research by Electric Scooter Market estimates that e-scooters will be worth $644 billion in 2028, which shows that the combination of rental initiatives and private scooter sales will continue to grow.

Forward-thinking companies such as Unagi are giving enthusiasts the best of both worlds with an innovative scooter subscription program that allows people to pay monthly for a private scooter.

Instead of relying on ride-sharing scooters, you can rent a brand new Unagi Model One starting from just $59 a month, eliminating the safety issues and inconvenience ride-sharing initiatives create.

When the UK finally lets people take their scooters off on private land and onto the road, Unagi's subscription could be a lifesaver for commuters and people living in densely populated cities.

To understand why privately owned scooters are the better solution to rental e-scooters, we need to look at their benefits.

Crashes involving e-scooters are usually down to the user

While some accidents involve e-scooters, it's usually more a case of user error and a lack of responsibility. The Bristol News published a study showing that electric scooters are five times safer than e-bikes, yet the negative press surrounding them often overstates their potential dangers.

Further studies by BMJ stated that most e-scooter-related accidents and injuries were caused by using alcohol or illicit substances. Furthermore, injuries occurred due to potholes in the road, and many riders failed to wear helmets.

If the law change incorporates the same elements of responsibility people have to take when driving a car, it's likely that the number of accidents will decrease.

People are more likely to take care of a private scooter

It's easy for anyone to use their phone and find a rental scooter, but their convenience also means many users don't take proper care of it. Countries worldwide have documented the issue of carelessness, with many electric scooters ending up in rivers (Elective).

When someone owns an electric scooter, they'll take care of it because it costs more than renting one for a short ride. Hopefully, as private scooters hit public roads, people will maintain their chosen device and reduce the negative press that rental programs currently generate.

UK e-scooter riders will soon have the freedom they deserve

When the UK finally makes private e-scooter use legal, we can expect a new era of transport to define the future.

In the 1890s, people could experience the convenience of using a car for the first time, and the new vehicle class for scooters will once again create a more convenient and sustainable way for people to travel, which resolves the growing concern over carbon emissions.

Not only can scooters lower greenhouse gas emissions, but they're also more cost-effective. As long as countries regulate e-scooters, we can enjoy everything they offer without worrying about safety.

Very soon, the UK will be the latest to adopt private e-scooters, and we can't wait! The team here at Unagi looks forward to supplying our innovative electric scooters to UK residents and have some exciting plans for the future.