UK FUTURE LEGISLATION UPDATE

At long last, it looks like there might be some light at the end of the tunnel, and we’re speeding towards it at a top speed of around 25 mph! On the 10th of May, Prince Charles offered up some very welcome news, with his announcement of the Transport Bill, and it won’t surprise you to know, that the part that excited us the most, was the proposed legalisation of e-scooters on public roads. This is the moment we’ve all been waiting for. The UK government is finally following in the footsteps of almost every other European country, by recognising the tremendous benefits offered by the legalisation of electric scooters as a viable means of transport in public spaces.

The bill is expected to be put before parliament in the 2022-2023 session, which means we could be less than a year away from something we’ve all been anticipating for what feels like forever. This is not only a huge moment for us at The Electric Scooter Store but for all electric scooter enthusiasts, green living advocates, commuters, and yes, thrill seekers!

The legal framework was proposed by researchers at the University of Warwick and details how future micro-mobility vehicles could be not only operated but also designed in the UK by 2023.

Of course, the proposal comes with some important, and welcome caveats:

There will be specified standards and regulations for each vehicle type covering factors such as speed and weight limits. All vehicles must be registered and visually identifiable. There will be basic design requirements regarding minimum wheel size, and effective braking systems are a must. All vehicles will require daytime running lights, sound emitters, and indicators to make them suitable for roads, and to improve visibility for other road users. There will be a minimum age limit to operate the vehicles and their introduction will also come with increased powers for local law enforcement to curtail illegal use.

But there’s nothing in their list of requirements that feels like any sort of unnecessary imposition, in fact we already suggest most of the same things as part of our basic guide to ‘How to ride a scooter safely (and legally)’ {https://electric-scooter.store/blogs/news/how-to-ride-a-scooter-safely-and-legally}, and all of our scooter brands already adhere to these basic standards. So, it looks like sticking to the limitations of privately-owned land (which for many of us is little more than a driveway or back garden) are over, and it’s safe to say that we couldn’t be happier!

Here’s what the lead Author behind the legislation, and Program director at WMG at the University of Warwick, John Fox had to say on the matter:

“It’s important that these vehicles are high quality, safe, and legal. They can provide a low-carbon mobility option which is available to everybody, allowing us to make choices about how we travel, and stimulating future innovation which will accelerate a market for UK manufacturers.”

John, we couldn’t agree more. The green revolution might be here sooner than you think, so you had better prepare for it by visiting our store, and finding the perfect electric scooter for you.