Agenda item

Report of the Director of the Built Environment.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of the Built Environment in respect of the City of London Corporation’s participation in E-Scooter trials.

Officers introduced the report by stating that the Government had recently announced the fast tracking of its proposed trials for e-scooter hire in the UK in response to COVID-19 and in recognition of the potential for this new mode of transport to help relieve pressures on public transport which continued to operate at reduced capacity. The trial would include rental e-scooter operators and the use of parking areas would be mandated as would defined no go zones. Speed limits would be imposed for the scooters. On balance, Officers felt that the safety concerns around the use of e-scooters and the impacts of e-scooter parking on other street users had been addressed by the Department for Transport (DfT) guidance. Members were informed that Officers were now working closely with TfL and other interested local authorities in London to enhance this guidance and to ensure that any trial that might go ahead was safe, accessible and would minimise any impact on others, particularly those with limited mobility or other impairments.

The report today recommended participation in a trial (preferably a multi-borough trial, co-ordinated by TfL and London Councils). Members were informed that participation would bring a number of benefits including the ability to provide socially distanced alternatives to the use of public transport and allowing the City to gather data that would help inform any future policy responses on potential e-scooter legislation. At present, discussions were highlighting that those participating in the trial would have significant say and influence on trial criteria as it was developed. A number of adjacent boroughs were now in the process of confirming their participation in trials and it was therefore likely that rent-free e-scooter use would occur either on the City’s boundaries or within the Square Mile itself. Participation would allow the City Corporation to have meaningful input and influence over what e-scooter use looked like in Central London over the next year whilst trials were in operation.

A Member, also the serving Chairman of the Streets and Walkways Sub Committee, commented that he recognised that this had the potential to be quite a controversial and sensitive matter and that there were many who had differing views on this. However, at this stage, all that was being asked of Members was permission for the City to participate in a trial programme. He felt that this should be approved as, only by taking part, could the City Corporation have any real input into the way in which a longer-term e-scooter use policy would inevitably develop both in the City and in neighbouring boroughs in terms of things such as insurance, speed, parking, safety measures and noise. Non-participation in the trial would lead to the City having a lack of control over this matter on its own streets.

Another Member agreed with this view. He added that an e-scooter trial would be proceeding elsewhere in London regardless of whether or not the City Corporation chose to participate. He commented on the fact that Officers had underlined that the trial would preferably be a multi-borough trial organised by TfL and stated that, to his mind, this would be essential as, if borough and the City took its own approach, this would be disjointed. Officers agreed and reiterated that a multi-borough approach was their strong preference.

A third Member concurred with the views already stated. He underlined that the matter should be taken very seriously and that the City might want to make representations on safety measures such as the use of helmets and the interaction of these vehicles with pedestrians and other road users/cyclists. The potential introduction of parking charges for these vehicles in the longer term could also be considered. The Member went on to suggest that the Committee should receive biannual updates.

Another Member commented that he felt that the Government had made a mistake in permitting the use of these vehicles. He did, however, agree that the City should now participate in these trails so that they were able to shape and influence their operation. He added that when submissions as to the outcome of the trail were made, a pan-London approach would be essential. He concluded by asking whether, in terms or measuring the impact of the trial, further information about transport mode switches could be provided as well as user/pedestrian perceptions. Officers agreed that this data would be core in terms of what was collected and shared.

A Member commented that other countries had implemented successful schemes for e-scooter rental/use and that he therefore welcomed entering proper consultation and trials on this for London. He added that he was of the view that they had the potential to provide a very important level of access to our streets that could not be provided with any ease by other methods at present. He recognised that there were safety concerns around their use and that the best way to address these would be through participation in the trials and looked forward to the results of this.

A Member commented that a data driven approach was absolutely the right way to determine whether or not this was an appropriate way forward for the City Corporation. He went on to question how success would be measured/quantified and how Officers would determine whether this was a mode of transport that we were keen to embrace going forward. He also asked how those contravening any trial regulations would be policed given that one of the things that had encouraged his support of this was the need for insurance and the specification of various other safety measures. He added that there were already e-scooter users on the City’s streets and that this was already proving difficult to police. Officers commented that the only thing that the trials would make legal was the use of e-scooters for hire on UK streets. The requirements around producing drivers licences/insurance documents would therefore be necessary before users were permitted to register to use the vehicles. Wider issues around potential confusion around people using privately owned e-scooters would be addressed by the City of London/Metropolitan Police who had already undertaken a lot of work in terms of engagement, education and enforcement in relation to this. The City Corporation would ensure that any messaging around any potential participation in the trial would reinforce these points.

In terms of measuring success, Officers reported the criteria around this was still to be finalised, ideally in discussion with TfL, London Councils and other boroughs. It was likely to include understanding what happens in terms of mode shift, understanding safety implications and people’s perceptions. Ultimately, it would be about understanding the impact of the scooters on our streets and whether this new mode of transport could be introduced in a harmonious way. This would be set out within the final criteria which would be approved under delegation.

A Member commented that the trials needed to ensure the highest possible safety standards for both e-scooters users and the general public. She noted the proposals around no go and go slow areas and stated that she assumed that these would ensure that there was no e-scooter use permitted in any shared space or pedestrian areas such as Bow Lane during the hours where all other vehicles were prohibited. She went on to question whether the City could ask the DfT to ensure that the scooters were fitted with loud horns to sound an alert and warn pedestrians that they were approaching given that they were electric and therefore often silent. She concluded by questioning how the use of e-scooters would affect the City’s KSIs in terms of road safety going forward. Officers commented that the no go and go slow areas would be given careful consideration but clarified that e-scooters were viewed in essentially the same way as bicycles in terms of where they should and should not access (on the carriageway, not on pavements or in pedestrianised areas). Officers were unaware of whether the DfT had specified any form of bells or horns for rental scooters to date but added that this was something that they could put forward. 

RESOLVED – That:

1.     The City of London Corporation participate in a rental e-scooter trial, subject to the terms of that trial meeting the City Corporation’s requirements.

2.     Agreement of the Terms of the trial be delegated to the Chief Officer in consultation with the Chair and Deputy Chairman of the Planning & Transportation Committee and the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Streets & Walkways Sub-Committee.

3.     If required by Department of Transport guidance, rental e-scooters that are not part of any trial that the City Corporation is participating in, be permitted to travel through the City of London.