Micromobility is another issue on which the government’s lack of dynamism is causing frustration, with the failure to bring forward legislation in the King’s Speech to legalise e-scooters on public roads drawing new criticism from campaigners.
In an article on TransportXtra, Richard Dilks, chief executive of national shared transport charity Collaborative Mobility UK (CoMoUK), pointed out that the government had previously committing to doing so when parliamentary time allows and described the absence of legislation as “a significant blow that will prolong uncertainty and deter investment”.
Of course, “when parliamentary time allows” is merely a function of the government’s priorities, which is what the King’s Speech is meant to set out, and Dilks urged the government “to rethink its timeline”.
CoMoUK was a signatory to an open letter sent to the Prime Minister called for legislation to create a new powered light vehicle class, giving e-scooters and other e-mobility options access to public roads.
The letter was also signed by operators including Lime, Voi, and Bolt, local councillors, and transport and environmental organisations such as Campaign for Better Transport and Clean Cities.
Dilks described the failure to legislate as “deeply frustrating”, adding:
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Transport Insights 