Charity calls for legislation to allow shared e-scooter schemes

A charity is urging Scotland’s political parties to commit to passing legislation that would give people access to shared e-scooter schemes for the first time.

Collaborative Mobility UK (CoMoUK) said that while pilot schemes are running in England, north of the border people are missing out on a “flexible and low-carbon mode of transport”.

CoMoUK said that such schemes are currently the only legal way to ride e-scooters on public roads in the UK.

Ahead of the Holyrood election in May, the charity is calling on parties to commit to passing the primary and secondary legislation needed to enable shared e-scooter schemes.

It is among six key pledges the charity said it would like to see in party manifestos, including increasing the density of car club vehicles in Scotland to a minimum of one per 10,000 inhabitants.

Richard Dilks, chief executive of CoMoUK, said: “Scotland has a tremendous opportunity to become a leader in sustainable travel, and as we approach the Holyrood election, it is time for bold commitments and action.

“For too long, Scots have been denied the benefits of shared e-scooters, a flexible and low-carbon mode of transport that has been enjoyed by people in England for years.

“As well as giving e-scooter schemes the green light, enacting our other pledges would help the next Scottish Government unlock a cleaner, greener, and more affordable future for all.

“Expanding car clubs, building a network of mobility hubs, and embedding shared transport into new housing developments would help to cut emissions and reduce traffic congestion.

“We urge all parties to embrace these solutions now, ensuring that Scotland leads the way in sustainable transport rather than watching from the sidelines.”

CoMoUK, the national charity for shared transport, is also calling for political parties to back the creation of a dedicated shared transport team within the next Scottish government.

It would also like to see multi-year funding for a network of mobility hubs and an update to the active travel strategy to include shared bike schemes.

The charity would also like to see new housing developments to be designed in a way that reduces car dependency and includes options for shared transport.

Transport Scotland said it had hoped to support local authorities which previously expressed interest in participating in trials, but that the short application window offered by the UK Department for Transport (DfT) process for trials means it is not possible to implement the necessary legislation in time.

It said it is continuing to engage closely with the DfT on their proposed legislation to fully legalise e-scooters, and continuing to develop the evidence base and policy position on e-scooters in Scotland.

Scottish Conservative transport spokeswoman Sue Webber MSP said: “People across Scotland are already being put at risk of serious injury by the dangerous use of illegal e-scooters and e-bikes on our streets.

“The SNP have turned a blind eye to this problem for far too long.

“Any call to expand their use is a non-starter until ministers get a grip on current problems involving these vehicles and ensure police have the powers and resources they need to keep the public safe.”

Scottish Greens transport spokesman Mark Ruskell said: “Shared transport can help cut emissions and reduce car dependency, and we are seeing the benefits of such schemes across Europe, where they are becoming the norm.

“They are really opening up cities and towns to greater mobility, but rules need to be designed carefully.

“We need to learn the lessons of what works so these schemes can be introduced where there is public support for them.

“At the moment there are simply no rules in place to allow any of the e-scooter schemes to run legally, we risk being left behind in Scotland.”