London has joined over 30 UK cities, such as Newcastle, Bristol, and Bournemouth, in trialing electric scooter rental programs as an eco-friendly transportation alternative. In London, electric scooters are available for rent in 10 boroughs, Canary Wharf, and parts of Tower Hamlets and Lambeth.
To ensure safety, "go-slow areas" have been established where the speed limit is reduced to 8 mph. Rental electric scooters in the UK have a maximum speed of 15.5 mph, and the typical cost to rent one is £1 to unlock plus 14p-20p per minute.
electric scooters are currently classified as "powered transporters" and subject to the same laws as motor vehicles. However, private electric scooters can only be used on private land, while public road usage is limited to government-backed trial electric scooters.
To rent an e-scooter, users must have a category Q entitlement on their driving license and complete an online course in London. Although helmets are recommended, they are not legally required. Fines of £50 and £100 can be issued for riding on the footway or using a mobile phone, respectively.
The Transport Committee of MPs has proposed legalising electric scooters on roads but not pavements, arguing that wider usage can benefit people from low-income backgrounds and offer a low-carbon alternative for those who cannot or do not want to cycle. However, there are concerns about the safety of electric scooters, as accidents have increased in recent years, and their potential use in criminal activities.
Transport minister Michael Ellis said: "We are examining whether they can be used safely on the road - and if so, how that should be regulated to ensure the public's safety.
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