Let’s take an easy ride to lower emissions by legalising private e-scooters

Britain’s outmoded legislation means that while e-scooter hire schemes are underway the use of private e-scooters on roads and pavements is illegal, depriving us of a quick way to promote sustainable travel, says Leo Murray

Leo Murray

17 November 2021

Two-thirds of car journeys in London are short enough to be cycled or e-scooted in under 20 minutes

Leo Murray

Back in 2019, before the Covid-19 pandemic turned the world upside down, I remember being suddenly struck by an observation about electric scooters which had begun popping up on London’s roads: so many of the people riding these scooters seemed to be black. This caught my attention because black and minority ethnic Londoners continue to be under-represented amongst the capital’s cyclists; three in four of whom are white, despite ethnic minorities comprising up to 37% of...