Trial over speed limits and no-go zones for capital’s e-scooters

By Noah Vickers, Local Democracy Reporters

Restrictions limiting where rental e-scooters can be driven in London have been eased in a bid to make them more “competitive” – and to reduce injuries caused when the vehicles suddenly stop working.

E-scooters, which are more heavily regulated than e-bikes in the capital, are still banned from passing through large sections of the city centre, including the Royal Parks, the South Bank and the area around St Paul’s Cathedral.

The restrictions are enforced using geofencing technology, which causes the scooter’s engine to cut out once it has entered a banned zone.

But concerns have been raised that the suddenness with which the scooters stop when they enter these areas can cause injuries.

Other parts of the city, like Soho, have been designated as ‘go slow’ areas, where the vehicle’s speed is automatically brought down to a crawl of 8mph.

The scooters are available to rent as part of an ongoing national trial, overseen in London by Transport for London (TfL). Privately-owned e-scooters, despite their widespread use, remain illegal to ride in the UK except on private property.

TfL says it has now “reduced the number of go slow and no go areas across the trial area, to improve the experience for riders without impacting those not using the service”.

In areas not covered by ‘no go’ or ‘go slow’ zones, the scooters are limited by TfL to driving at a maximum speed of 12.5mph, despite the Government setting a limit nationally of 15.5mph.

Though TfL has said it “will not be making a change to the trial’s maximum speed at this time”, a recent report revealed that an increase has nonetheless been “considered” by the transport authority and could potentially be progressed if there were to be a “widespread removal of geofence zones”.

The report, published in September by London Councils – the capital’s local government association – said that TfL is working with borough authorities on “a revised approach “ to managing e-scooters, to “ensure the mode stays competitive” across the city.

It added: “TfL receive weekly incident reporting on safety incidents that occur where a scooter rider is ‘clipped’ by a geofence zone whilst riding in the carriageway, causing a sudden loss of power to their vehicle, creating a significant risk for the rider.

“This affects 15 per cent of all e-scooter rides, and 40 per cent of those affected do not take another trip. Two boroughs have removed e-scooter geofences with no safety incidents reported.”

In a letter to mayor Sadiq Khan this summer, e-scooter operator Voi said that the 12.5mph speed restriction placed on the vehicles meant that they “cannot compete” with e-bikes in the capital.

Critics of e-scooters warn that the vehicles are unsafe and that an increase to the speed limit would lead to a rise in injuries.

Picture: Pixabay/MirceaLancu