ARE ELECTRIC SCOOTERS LEGAL TO RIDE?

So you are interested in using an electric scooter, however you're not quite sure if it is legal or not. It is evident that there are several advantages to using an electric scooter as they are an efficient, eco friendly and sustainable form of transportation for commuting and leisure.

At Scoot the City, the most frequent question we receive is around the legality of e-scooters. You may have noticed that this summer’s rise in temperatures has brought a rise in e-scooter use, so we wanted to give you a full update on the legislation.  

UK legislation around electric scooters is constantly evolving, so let’s look at the rules in two categories:  

Private use of E-Scooters: 

As things currently stand, UK law states that you can only ride electric scooters on private land. E-scooters are illegal to use on pavements, cycle paths and public roads. While it is currently illegal, the British government is looking at changing the laws in the near future, a consideration which has been expedited due to Covid-19. 

Rental of E-Scooters: 

 As of July 4th 2020, the UK government took a significant step to making electric scooters legal on UK roads as part of a 12 month trial scheme in designated areas. As part of the trial, there are many requirements with a sample listed below: 

• Electric scooters need to have a maximum speed of 25km/h with specific breaking/stability requirements
• Riders must hold a full provisional drivers license
• Riders are recommended to wear a helmet  

At Scoot The City, we are excited to be able to offer riders a choice of private use as well as rental/leasing. As one of the first electric scooter retailers in the UK, we have been advocating for electric scooters to be made legal and we are excited by the continuous progress and developments being made in the industry.