Rees expects e-scooters to become ‘permanent feature’ of Bristol

Bristol’s mayor expects e-scooters to become a “permanent feature” of the city and private scooters to be legalised.

Marvin Rees said it would be “odd” if the Government did not change the law to give private scooters the same legal status as the rental ones available under a pilot scheme in the city.

The salmon pink Voi scooters dotted around the streets of Bristol are part of a trial of their use run by the West of England Combined Authority.

Only e-scooters that are hired or leased through the trial can be used legally on roads, cycle lanes or cycle tracks. It is illegal to ride them on pavements or to park them in a way that causes a nuisance.

Using privately owned e-scooters in public space is currently illegal.

The results of the West of England trial, along with those in other parts of the country, will help to determine future legislation governing the use of e-scooters.

Voi’s e-scooters were introduced last year. Photo: Martin Booth

Asked about the pilot at a press briefing, Rees said: “I think it’s been very successful, very popular. I use them myself.

“It’s absolutely fantastic. You can see the convenience. It is possible for them to cut out car journeys and road journeys.

“I think these will become a permanent feature of Bristol life, just like they’ve become a permanent feature of the lives of cities in the United States and across Europe.

“It would be odd if the legislation around private scooters did not come alongside that to enable people to use private scooters as well. But with that comes that degree of rigour and responsibility to make sure that they are registered, that they’re not being used on the pavements, that they’re being used safely.”

The Voi scooters have proved controversial. They are popular with many residents who see them as a convenient, inexpensive, zero carbon way to travel.

But drivers have complained about their “unpredictable” movements on the road, and the designated “parking zones”, often on pavements or at bus stops, have caused problems for pensioners, visually impaired people and parents with buggies.

There have been some issues with the scooters, such as parking. Photo: Tom Archer

And there are safety concerns. A woman was left with serious injuries after the e-scooter she was riding was in a crash with a car on Hartcliffe Way on May 18.

Voi has responded by announcing it will host a series of safety events and launch more in-app functions to encourage riders to use the scooters safely.

Addressing the problems highlighted by the e-scooter trial, Rees said there were “lessons to learn”.

“We have to look at how they’re managed in space: how they’re left, to make sure they’re not blocking pavements and causing a hazard,” he said.

All road users have a responsibility to ensure they use the road safely, he added.

Rees said police need a “proper legal framework” for private scooters to inform their approach to enforcement while their use remains illegal.

Amanda Cameron is a local democracy reporter for Bristol.

Main photo: Martin Booth

Read more: Voi to host safety events in Bristol