Scooter ‘prohibition’ not working says Mayor Marvin Rees

Mayor Marvin Rees has supported calls for the legalisation of private e-scooters, saying they are ‘a reality of life now’.

Unlike Voi rental e-scooters, privately-owned scooters can only currently be legally ridden on private land.

But in Bristol and elsewhere in the country, private scooters are regularly seen on roads and cycleways despite the risk of a £1,000 fine and penalty points.

Unlike rental e-scooters, which have their speed capped at 15.5mph, private scooters do not need to meet safety standards and some are able to exceed 50mph.

Evidence collected by a Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety revealed there had been seven causalities involving e-scooters in Bristol between April and October this year.

They included an 18-year-old private e-scooter rider seriously injured in a crash involving a car in Fishponds in September.

The situation has led to calls from Adam Norris, founder of leading e-scooter retailer Pure Electric, that private e-scooters should now be legalised with obligations to display numberplates and riders to have compulsory insurance.

He said this could curb dangerous riding.

Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees has previously raised concerns over the use of private scooters in the city.

And speaking at a recent media conference, Mr Rees said he supported calls to legalise the mode of transport.

He said: “I don’t think probation on scooters is working so let’s bring them in - they are everywhere anyway, police are struggling to enforce.

“Let’s bring them in and properly regulate a reality of life now.”

Mr Rees added he intended to write to Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), Mark Shelford, over the enforcement of speeding e-scooters, ‘electric motorbikes’ in particular.

Mr Rees added: “One of my real concerns at the moment, and something I’ve raised with PCC, is these almost electric motorbikes.

“These things drive round at absolutely crazy speeds, they seem to fall through the gaps of the law so people are riding them through parks, on pavements at like 30mph with no safety equipment.

“This is something we need to clamp down on. We’ve raised this a couple of times but we now need to come down on this now because there is going to be a very serious accident with these things soon.”

Avon and Somerset Police carries out enforcement on the illegal use of private scooters.

Earlier this year the force warned those intending to ride a private scooter on roads, cycle lanes or pavements that they could be fined up to £1,000, given six penalty points and have their scooter seized.

The Department for Transport is considering introducing legislation to permit e-scooters on public roads, with any proposal expected by Easter.