Calls to take up e-scooter scheme in Sheffield

From Saturday, it became legal to use a rental scooter in the UK - joining countries including Belgium, Greece and France.

Sheffield Liberal Democrats and Green Party said the council should seize the opportunity and believe it could bring benefits to the environment.

Councillor Shaffaq Mohammed, leader of the Lib Dems and former member of European Parliament, said: “During my time in Brussels, e-scooters were seen as a viable environmentally friendly option and were widely used across that city.

“I saw the benefits of e-scooters as part of a wider solution to helping meet global carbon reduction targets.

“As a group, the Lib Dems have been pushing for the legalisation of e-scooters as part of a full package of measures to get people out of their cars and onto the streets safely. The council must grasp this opportunity quickly and without delay.”

Coun Douglas Johnson, leader of the Green Party, said: "Anything that helps people get out of their cars and take a more active form of travel has got to be a good thing.

“It’s another option for people to get about and a trial is a sensible way forward to see how well it works. E-scooters could be attractive to younger people especially and would be a much cheaper and healthier alternative to buying a first car.

"The scheme obviously needs to be safe but the biggest danger to all road users – pedestrians, cyclists, wheelchair users as well as car drivers - is the poor design of many streets, which are so dominated by cars, whether parked or moving. Having e-scooters is yet another reason why it is worth investing in better cycle infrastructure for the city.

"Sheffield needs to see a lot better and safer road space so that more and more people can choose to leave their cars at home. Compared to many other European cities, we are miles behind having a suitable and safe environment for getting about."

Rules for riding a rental e-scooter will include a maximum speed of 15.5 miles per hour, a ban on pavements and that riders must be aged 16 or older and have a full or provisional car, motorcycle or moped licence.

Privately owned e-scooters will remain illegal on roads, cycle lanes, tracks and pavements.

The Department for Transport said local authorities and devolved administrations can allow or run sharing schemes in their areas as part of 12-month trials from the weekend.

So far, around 50 councils expressed an interest in being part of the trials and it is hoped the first rentable e-scooters will be up and running from early next week starting in Middlesborough.

Coun Tim Huggan, shadow cabinet member for environment, said: “The council must use this opportunity to roll out as soon as possible trial schemes with enhanced active travel schemes to get people out of cars and give them the widest range of non-polluting travel options in the city.”

The Department for Transport initially planned to legalise rentals next year but moved it forwards to help ease the demand on public transport as coronavirus lockdown is eased.

Sheffield Council was unavailable to comment on whether it will take up a scheme.

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