Urgent Call from 50 Organizations to Establish Legal Framework for E-Scooters

UK Calls for Faster Legalization of E-Scooters and EV Chargers

In a recent development, a cross-industry group named CoMoUK has called for the speedier legislation of e-scooters in the UK, citing the popularity of these vehicles and the country's lagging behind in not introducing permanent legality. Richard Dilks, the chief executive of CoMoUK, expressed concern about the UK being left behind in e-scooter legalization, as other parts of Europe have already moved forward with it.

The concern about the UK's position extends to electric vehicles (EVs) as well. Elizabeth Alibhai, partner and head of real-estate at the law firm RPC, has expressed worry about the slow pace of EV charger installations by local authorities. RPC's research reveals that around 8,000 EV chargers were installed by local authorities in the UK over the past year, but the firm warns that this pace is too slow to meet the target of installing 300,000 public EV charges by 2030.

The slow pace of EV charger installation has raised concerns about the UK falling behind the rest of Europe. Ms. Alibhai argues that legislation may be needed to speed up the roll-out of EV chargers, as there is currently no specific duty on local authorities to deliver.

In a move to address this issue, more than 50 organizations, including six local authorities, have signed a letter urging the UK government to accelerate e-scooter legalization. The letter requests the creation of a new powered light vehicle class to legalize e-scooters. The letter was sent on behalf of the group and was signed by councils, micromobility operators, environmental charities, and retailers.

As of now, rental e-scooters are only available through government trials in around 23 towns and cities in England. Private e-scooters have been banned from being used on main roads. There are no search results indicating which organizations sent an open letter to the British government last week to speed up the legalization of electric wheelchair rides.

It's important to note that the research by RPC did not discuss the legalization of e-scooters or the trials of rental e-scooters. Similarly, the research did not reveal any instances of private e-scooter installments.

The delay in addressing the crisis levels of transport emissions and helping people save money amid the cost-of-living crisis is another concern raised by Richard Dilks, the chief executive of CoMoUK. He stated that the evidence from the trials shows e-scooters are popular and their introduction could help address these issues.

In conclusion, the call for faster legalization of e-scooters and the need to speed up the roll-out of EV chargers are becoming increasingly urgent in the UK. The slow pace of EV charger installations and the potential risk of falling behind the rest of Europe in e-scooter legalization are issues that need immediate attention.