Transport for London gives go-ahead for e-scooters on capital’s streets I The Guardian
Trial to allow rented scooters on roads as part of green transport plan
From spring, up to three firms will operate hire schemes in London; private scooters, which are widely in use, will remain unauthorised. Photograph: Guy Bell/Rex/Shutterstock
E-scooters to rent are expected to be on the streets of London from next spring after the capital gave the go-ahead for trials. Up to three firms will be permitted to operate hire schemes, which are likely to start as small-scale operations in a limited number of boroughs.
Transport for London said the trials were part of plans to encourage greener forms of transport and, in particular, to avoid a “damaging, car-led recovery from coronavirus”, with road congestion already approaching pre-crisis levels.
Privately owned scooters will remain illegal in public, although they are already widely in use, unauthorised, on London roads.
