Scooting ahead
Glasgow City Council backs e-scooter pilot rental scheme in bid to cut car use
GLASGOW is set to be one of the first cities in the UK to allow electric scooters on its roads.
Councillors in the city have backed a pilot e-scooter rental scheme that will be the first in Scotland.
E-scooters are currently only legal to use in Scotland and the rest of the UK if they are part of a share scheme like the one proposed for Glasgow. Privately owned e-scooters are illegal and it’s against the law to ride one.
The Glasgow scheme will only be open to people aged 18 and above, who have at least a provisional driving licence. The city is looking to allow e-scooters to be used on cycle paths.
Councillor and committee chairman Huw Merriman said: “We’ve seen in recent months a shift away from car use and e-scooters have the potential to become an ingenious way to get from place to place. If it gets people out of their cars, exercising in the open air, and reduces congestion and cuts emissions, then even better.”
He added: “Before e-scooters become fully legal, the council and Government must use trials to monitor the use of these scooters carefully. We also need to put in place enforcement measures to be sure there is no risk to pedestrians and disabled people.”
A Cycling Scotland spokesman said: “E-scooters may have long-term benefits, if people replace short car trips with travel by e-scooter – but significant safety concerns need to be resolved and they should not be allowed on pavements or off-road paths in Scotland. It’s important we learn lessons from other countries and cities where e-scooters are legal.”
Edmund King, president of the AA, said: “The safest option would be to support the use of e-scooters in extended dedicated cycle paths.
“We’d also recommend some form of training for riders.”
An e-scooter can reach 15.5mph and they use an electric motor and rechargeable battery to give a range of up to 28 miles. They cost from £300.
Matt Barrie the UK manager for Bolt, a company that runs e-scooter share schemes in other European cities, said: “E-scooters provide an affordable and environmentally sustainable means of transport in town that is available any time of day and is ideal for commuters, tourists or just popping to the shops or visiting friends. They help reduce the volume of traffic on the roads, making it more pleasant for everyone.
“A slow, calculated approach is the best way forward for Glasgow so that localised learning can be taken on board and used to implement a wider roll-out.
“The benefits of e-scooters are considerable and they can also help bring more tourists into a city or be used for last-mile journeys when people go from the train or bus station to their home or office by e-scooter.”
The final say on e-scooter use in Scotland will come from the Scottish Government.
A spokesman said: “The UK Government made quite a sudden decision to introduce e-scooters.
“We all want cleaner, quieter city streets but it must be achieved in a safe, responsible way.”