Buckinghamshire Council extends e-scooter trial to May 2024

Credit: Buckinghamshire Council

Buckinghamshire Council has announced that it has extended its e-scooter trial in Aylesbury, High Wycombe and Princes Risborough until May 2024. This follows the Department for Transport (DfT) extending the national e-scooter trial to continue its assessment of impacts and allow legislation to be put in place to legalise e-scooters.

The continuation of the e-scooter trial supports the council’s ambitions to be a ‘living lab’ for innovation and also supports the council’s Climate Change and Air Quality Strategy by promoting sustainable low-carbon transport alternatives for shorter trips.

As it’s run as a private business by Zipp Mobility, the e-scooter trial is managed at zero cost to Buckinghamshire Council.

Steven Broadbent, Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “The trial has so far proved successful with a higher than expected take up. To date, more than 191,000 trips have taken place across the three trial areas. The extension of the trial will enable us and the DfT to gather additional usage data post-COVID, providing a better understanding of ‘normal’ use patterns and evidence about the safety, benefits and public perceptions of e-scooters.”

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Charlie Gleeson, CEO and Founder of Zipp Mobility, said: “We are delighted to be able to continue to contribute to Buckinghamshire Council’s ambitious climate action goals. This move is a clear recognition of the success of the trial to date and we look forward to improving on this over the next 18 months.”

Only e-scooters authorised through official trials can be used, which means that in Buckinghamshire, only Zipp Mobility e-scooters are legal.

Privately owned e-scooters can only be used on private land, with the permission of the landowner. Riders cannot use a privately-owned e-scooter on the road, pavement or in a public space. If they do so, they risk receiving a large fine, points on their driving licence and the possibility of their e-scooter being seized.