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<p>We have no current plans to publish any criteria. We will use the evidence we gather
from rental e-scooter trials, the responses to the Future of Transport regulatory
review call for evidence and other research, to consider whether to legalise both
rental and privately-owned e-scooters. E-scooters are a new vehicle type; evidence
around the benefits and risks of these vehicles is limited and inconclusive. We know
there are some risks, and we want to understand these and how to mitigate them. Running
on-road trials of rental e-scooters is the best way to assess the safety and wider
impacts of this type of vehicle and service. Data will be collected by e-scooter providers.
The details of the data to be shared and the process for doing so are still being
developed and will be set out in data sharing agreements between the Department and
e-scooter providers, and with local authorities where required.</p><p> </p><p>We have
carried out an equality analysis for e-scooter trials under the Public Sector Equality
Duty (s.149 Equalities Act 2010).</p><p> </p><p>The combination of speed and power
limits constrain how an e-scooter can be used and are intended to ensure the vehicles
can be used safely, but we recognise e-scooters are likely to have a particular impact
on blind and visually impaired people.</p><p>To mitigate potentially negative impacts,
we have proposed:</p><ul><li><p>That e-scooters used in trials must have a horn or
bell so that users can make themselves heard to pedestrians.</p></li><li>That e-scooters
should not be used on the pavement (except in shared cycle/pedestrian space). Local
authorities already have powers to prohibit vehicles from specific spaces (included
shared spaces) on a case by case basis using Traffic Regulation Orders.</li></ul><p>
</p><p>We will also work with disability groups in monitoring and evaluating the trials
and considering the implications for future policy</p><p> </p><p>We increased the
speed, power and weight limits of e-scooters after considering the responses to the
recent consultation on e-scooter trials. We balanced these views against the equality
analysis. The 15.5 mph for trial e-scooters makes the maximum speed for e-scooters
the same as e-bikes and is consistent with the maximum speed for e-scooters in many
other countries.</p><p> </p><p>We increased the weight limit to take account of the
heavier batteries of some e-scooters. We expect that most e-scooters used in trials
will be well below the 55kg maximum.</p><p> </p><p>We increased the power limit to
500W to ensure e-scooters are able to go up steeper inclines and carry heavier users.
This was a matter raised with us during the consultation.</p><p> </p><p>We have designed
the trials so that e-scooters use is limited and controlled. Speed, power and weight
limits constrain how an e-scooter can be used and are intended to ensure the vehicles
can be used safely. Local areas are free to set limits below the maximum, but it is
important that the evidence gathered in trials is representative of how e-scooters
may be used in the future.</p><p> </p><p>We are preparing a comprehensive monitoring
and evaluation plan to gather evidence from the trials. This will assess the safety
risks presented by e-scooters, the mode shift to e-scooters from other forms of transport,
public perceptions around their use and identify other impacts that should be considered
for any potential future legalisation of e-scooters.</p><p>It is for local traffic
authorities to undertake their own risk assessment of the appropriateness of using
the powers available to them to permit e-scooters to share road space with pedal cycles.
This assessment will be required on a case by case basis.</p><p> </p><p>The Department
consulted on the issue of amending the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions
2016 to enable e-scooters to share cycle lanes with pedal cycles. The consultation
responses supported this approach. The Government made the necessary regulatory changes
to include e-scooters within the definition of vehicles permitted to use cycle lanes
and to extend signs that apply to pedal cycles to also apply to e-scooters being used
in legal trials. This will be supplemented by traffic regulation orders issued by
the local areas.</p><p> </p><p>As the definition of cycle tracks is contained in primary
legislation, the Government has not amended this definition in advance of trials starting.
Instead, where deemed necessary, local authorities can re-designate cycle tracks using
the TRO process as appropriate.<strong><br> <br> </strong></p>
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