Call for eScooter Rules to be Clarified as Covid-19 ‘Lockdown’ Restrictions Ease
Leading eMobility retailer, Electra-Zoom, welcomes news that ‘independent sustainable transport’ will be prioritised as the current restrictions are gradually lifted - otherwise car travel could become the default option.
Managing Director, Ollie Chadwick, said:
“The coronavirus crisis has created many difficulties, but it has also given us quieter, cleaner, safer, decongested towns and cities.
To retain these benefits, we must embrace the sustainable options – now - if we are to ever change our travelling and commuting habits. We are, therefore, delighted to hear that substantial investment will be made to support this.”
- Pedestrians, Cyclists, eBikes and eScooters should be prioritised
- They can all provide safe, affordable, environmentally friendly and sustainable transport.
- They have a small ‘footprint’, offer convenient, independent, mobility, and, used responsibly, are safe and healthy
- They take pressure off the crowded public transport systems, and provide excellent levels of ‘distancing’ from other commuters and travellers
Ollie Chadwick added:
“The current Coronavirus crisis has brought us to a crossroads in our lifetime. We now have an opportunity to make many positive changes - especially the way we travel in the future, and particularly in our urban areas - and the clean, low cost, sustainable options, such as cycling, walking and scooting, offer a wealth of benefits.
However, without clear guidance and incentives, quite the opposite could happen – more people could defer to cars – believing this provides the isolation and security they need, which would be a major environmental setback.
Bikes and eBikes are gaining renewed popularity, but many cyclists still fear the return of high volumes of motor vehicle traffic.
eScooters are already in widespread use, but are still not formally legalised, and many potential users are eagerly awaiting this clarification.
The recent OECD Report concluded that eScooters would be safe and provide many benefits, and the Government are reviewing the legislation with a change in the law expected in the imminent future. https://www.itf-oecd.org/safe-micromobility
So, we have written to the Transport Minister, Grant Shapps, asking him to expedite this legislation, so that people can revolutionise the way they travel, in tandem with the return to work and the arrival of summer, without the risks of overcrowded public transport or reliance on cars”