Safety remains at heart of next phase London e-scooter trial
Transport for London (TfL), London Councils, participating London boroughs and e-scooter operators Dott, Lime and Voi have launched the second phase of the rental e-scooters trial in the capital.
The trial's next phase will look to build on its initial success by gathering more data to inform policy on rental e-scooters and trialling further innovations. This includes trialling new technology such as AI to improve parking compliance and exploring the use of pavement riding detection technology and audible vehicle alerts.
Over the past two years, improvements include the use of geofencing technology and increasing the number of parking bays, with more than 600 parking bays now available across the trial area.
The effort to improve the customer experience for rental e-scooter users will continue throughout this next phase. The trial currently runs in ten London boroughs who have chosen to take part. The next phase will see an expansion in coverage, including to the south of Lambeth with around 190 new parking bays later this year.
Safety will continue to be at the heart of the London trial, with rental e-scooters offering a number of safety benefits over private e-scooters (which remain unlawful on public roads). These include:
A lower maximum speed of 12.5mph
Lights at the front and the rear of the vehicles that are always on throughout any rental
GPS controlled parking and no-go zones
A unique identification number plate on every vehicle
A higher standard for fire and battery safety management
With fewer than 0.001 per cent of trips so far resulting in a serious injury, the London trial's strong safety record to date demonstrates the benefits of clear standards and elevated safety requirements for e-scooters.
Following a discussion at London Councils' Transport and Environment Committee, TfL, London Councils and London boroughs will now explore a single coordinated scheme to manage dockless e-bikes and e-scooters in London and improve while also increasing the quality and sustainability of the services.
Will Norman, London's Walking & Cycling Commissioner, said, "London's rental e-scooters are a great way to get around London, provided that they're used and parked safely. The first phase of the e-scooter trial has been hugely popular and the findings are helping us develop our approach in London. I look forward to TfL launching the next phase, to see how e-scooters can be rolled out successfully in the capital, building a better, greener, safer London for all."
Helen Sharp, TfL's e-scooter trial lead, said, "London's trial of rental e-scooters is gathering hugely valuable data and insights about e-scooters. We will build on the successes of the first phase to make it even safer, easier and more convenient to use e-scooters through a rental scheme. There are also new improvements planned on parking compliance and an increase in the number of parking spaces and in the number of boroughs taking part. Safety remains our number one priority for this trial, and we will work closely with the e-scooter operators, London Councils and participating boroughs to ensure we continue to meet rigorous standards.
Cllr Deirdre Costigan, Acting Chair of London Councils' Transport and Environment Committee, said "Millions of e-scooter trips have been made since London's rental e-scooter trial began two years ago, showing that Londoners are keen to take advantage of this sustainable mode of transport where properly regulated. We are confident that rental e-scooters will continue to provide an alternative to car-based travel in the capital."