Local policy essential to maximise e-scooter benefits

A new report has stressed that local authorities need to take an active role in the deployment of e-scooters within cities in order to maximise their benefits.

E-scooters are a low emission solution for first and last mile travel that are inclusive and sustainable, and can reduce congestion, improve city-centre journey times and produce less CO2 compared to alternative transport methods.

In the UK, 58 per cent of car journeys are less than five miles (moving to 69 per cent less than three miles in urban environments) while congestion causes an average of 178 lost hours per year in the UK and an associated cost of £8 billion.

In the new report, E-scooters – Maximising the benefits of e-scooter deployment in cities, Cenex calculates that e-scooter journeys can reduce CO2 emissions by between 66-90 per cent when they replace car travel in cities.

By analysing the impact of e-scooter deployment in several European cities, Cenex details the steps taken to control e-scooter numbers and provide parking provisions. For example, in Sofia, Bulgaria, over 200 car parking spaces were reallocated for bicycles, mopeds, and e-scooters to support alternative modes to car travel — in turn enabling sustainable growth of the e-scooter market without negative impacts.

The report warns that, without appropriate implementation, management, and regulation, e-scooters can disrupt the transport network, and the city as a whole, in a negative way. Deploying e-scooters before developing policy or legislation has led to safety concerns and street clutter in other European cities, as seen in Paris, France, where initially there was no control over the market.

This means that local authorities are encouraged to cooperate with private operators from the start to effectively integrate e-scooters into a transport system where they complement active travel and public transport rather than compete against them.

David Philipson, Transport Technical Specialist at Cenex, said: “Through openness, planning and regulation, e-scooters represent a large piece of the puzzle in decarbonising urban transport, and the lessons learnt from e-scooter deployment can help prepare cities for future transport innovations.

“It is evident that e-scooters are here to stay, with operators committed to continual improvements for the benefit of both the environment and society. Though still in its infancy as an industry, e-scooters are already providing a genuine, affordable, green solution to private car use in city centres which will only improve over time. Local authorities need to take an active role in the deployment of e-scooters in their regions, setting out regulations for operators in order to ensure that e-scooters meet both their ambitions and their citizens’ needs.”