The age limit for e-scooter riders could fall from 18 to 16, according to a London Councils report, if they have a provisional driving licence. Transport for London (TfL) is also considering increasing the speed limit from 12.5 mph to 15.5 mph.
There has been some debate about the safety of e-scooters. Thomas at ‘Doctor Scooter’, an e-scooter and e-bike shop, on Holloway Road, expressed reservations about changes to the age limit, saying that “It should be 18 where there is more responsibility.”
However, supporters point to data from Transport for London that shows that fewer than 0.01% of journeys end in serious casualty or injury.
Andrew, a member of the public in Laycock, Islington, said: “I’m generally pro micromobility stuff, and I think the really dangerous ones are the ones that illegally modified to go 30mph. So, I think that marginal increase, I would be for it.”
Thomas from ‘Doctor Scooter’ said regarding the popularity of e-scooters that: “business is doing well; it is the future”.
London’s liberalisation of restrictions on e-scooters contrasts to other major European cities such as Paris, which voted in a referendum to ban them.
Transport for London have not stated whether they will change their laws for allowing for e-scooters or e-unicycles on TfL services and stations.
Luke O'Connell - reporter for Laycock. Former Editor in Chief of University College Cork's Political Magazine, Polity.