Agenda item

Motion by Councillor Aston – Electric Scooters

“Committee:

1. Notes that electric scooters are illegal to use except on private land and yet that they are being widely used on our roads, pavements and cyclepaths.

2. Notes that there is a regulatory lacuna in respect of electric scooters, whereby these devices are legal to buy and are widely and relatively inexpensively available in the city.

3. Notes that this has helped to create a situation where young children are often seen riding electric scooters

4. Further notes that this has contributed to the widespread use of electric scooters on pavements, which is antisocial and dangerous, particularly for disabled and visually impaired pedestrians

5. Recognises that electric scooter rental schemes in operation in other European cities often result in hazardous and unsightly street clutter as scooters are left in piles when not being used

6. Notes that the House of Commons Transport Select Committee supported legalisation of electric scooters in its October 2020 report E-scooters: pavement nuisance or transport innovation and that the UK Government has been trialling escooter rentals in 31 places across England

7. Recognises that, despite misgivings of elected members and Edinburgh residents, electric scooters may be legalised and that our city may have to be prepared in responding to this outcome

8. Requests a report in three cycles on officers’ engagement so far with UK Department for Transport officials on the potential for legalisation or regulatory change in respect of electric scooters and what steps are being taken to prepare our city for this eventuality”