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E-scooter trials have commenced in London
11 June 2021
On June 7 2021, Transport for London (TfL) announced that its 12-month trial of e-scooters in the London area has commenced and that e-scooters are now available for rent in Canary Wharf, Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham, Kensington & Chelsea and Richmond.
The rental of an e-scooter costs between £3.25 and £3.40 for a 15-minute ride.
According to the TfL website, “Operators Dott, Lime and TIER were appointed to take part in the trial following the process, where their ability to meet strict safety requirements and high operating standards was carefully considered”.
More areas of London are set to join the trial later in the summer, although, the Evening Standard reported that the City Corporation, the local authority for the Square Mile, said it would not be joining the scheme until July 5, due to a delay in resolving administrative concerns.
Benefits of e-scooters highlighted by TfL include:
- Always-on lights.
- GPS controlled parking.
- No-go zones meaning they can only be parked in specified locations which do not obstruct the pavement and cannot be taken in certain areas, such as tunnels.
- A unique identification number on every vehicle.
Safety standards include:
- A lower maximum speed of 12.5mph, compared to the 15.5mph set nationally.
- Lights at the front and the rear of the vehicles that are always on throughout any rental.
- Larger wheels at least 12 inches in diameter, meaning they can navigate road surfaces more easily.
The TfL website also says that, “The operators will also have additional safety mechanisms in place, including 'first ride policies', meaning riders must take an e-learning safety course before they hire for the first time, and lower maximum speeds in place for their first ride”.
London's Walking & Cycling Commissioner Will Norman said, “As we look to our capital's future, we want to ensure a green and sustainable recovery from the pandemic. We know that a huge portion of car journeys in London are for very short distances, and we want to explore how e-scooters can act as an innovative alternative. E-scooters have been on our streets for some time now but with very little regulation. This trial will have safety at its heart, bringing in rigorous precautions and parking measures while taking the needs of all road users into account and seeing what role e-scooters can play in London's future.”
TfL's e-scooter trial lead Helen Sharp said, “Safety remains our number one priority for this trial and we will work closely with the e-scooter operators, London Councils and the boroughs to ensure rigorous standards are consistently met. We will also continue to work closely with all of our stakeholders, including TfL's Independent Disability Advisory Group, to ensure that the trial meets the needs of everybody living in, working in and visiting the trial areas. This new trial will provide the data and insights we need to determine the longer-term role e-scooters could play in our strategy for a greener and healthier future for London.”
Contract hire and fleet management
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We are always interested in learning about transport news, especially in relation to reducing CO2 emissions.
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