Electric Bicycles and Scooters
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of introducing stricter geo-fencing requirements for electrically assisted pedal cycle and scooter hire companies.
Answered by Simon Lightwood
The Government's English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act will enable local leaders to license shared cycle schemes and to set the terms under which schemes may operate in their area and act decisively to tackle issues such as irresponsible parking or riding.
We will consult comprehensively on all aspects of licensing for shared cycle schemes in due course and will then implement licensing through a combination of regulations and guidance. Licence conditions could include geofencing requirements, but these will be decisions for local leaders who know their areas best.
E-scooter trial operators already work with local authorities to introduce geofencing to address poorly parked e-scooters and to slow down or stop e-scooters when ridden in go-slow or no-go areas. In the long term, permanent e-scooter schemes will also be licensed by local leaders and therefore subject to potential geofencing, among other requirements.
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