Electric scooter trials have been brought forward, but what is the current law, and where can you ride?
Are electric scooters legal in the UK? The short answer is no – for now. Although you can legally sell, buy and own e-scooters, it’s currently against the law to ride them on public roads or footpaths. You could ride one on private land with the landowner’s permission, or in an area conducting a trial (more on that later), but the law is otherwise quite clear: no e-scooting allowed.electric scooters
If you’re stopped by police, you could receive a £300 fixed penalty notice, plus six points on your driving license – and although it might seem surprising considering how many e-scooters you see in a typical city, that does happen. Last summer, police in London stopped over 100 e-scooter riders over a single weekend.
But why – and why are electric bikes different?electric bikes
At the moment, electric scooters are classed as personal light electric vehicles (PLEVs) – a category that also includes cars and motorbikes, and requires licensing, tax, MOT, signalling ability, number plates and visible rear red lights. PLEVs must also meet minimum construction requirements to be considered road legal.
By contrast, pedal-assisted electric bikes are treated the same as ordinary bicycles, and don’t have to be registered, taxed or insured. You have to be at least 14 years old to ride one though, and the motor must have a maximum power output of 250 watts. The motor shouldn’t be able to propel the bike when it’s travelling at more than 15.5mph. Any e-bike that doesn’t fall into those rules is treated as an electric motorbike or moped.
