Electric Scooters for Adults and Kids - Are they legal?

Electric Scooters for Adults and Kids – Are they legal?

UPDATED: 11 JUNE 2024

We firmly believe that personal electric scooters (e-scooters) should be legally embraced on UK roads. Here’s why:

1. Sustainable Urban Mobility:
Privately owned e-scooters offer an eco-friendly alternative for short-distance travel, reducing congestion and emissions. According to a recent study by Fraunhofer ISI, e-scooters can reduce net carbon emissions compared to ride hailing apps and traditional cars. By legalizing them, we promote cleaner transportation options.

2. Efficient Commuting:
Privately owned e-scooters are not just a mode of transport, they are a solution to the daily commute puzzle. They are ideal for the “last mile” of a journey, seamlessly connecting commuters to public transport hubs. Legalization would not only enhance urban mobility but also significantly reduce the stress and hassle of daily commuting, offering a more efficient and enjoyable journey.

3. Safety Measures:
Micro e-scooters are not just about convenience and efficiency, they are about safety first. They adhere to stringent safety standards, including speed limits and because they are privately owned allow for proper maintenance. Legalization allows us to enforce these safety protocols effectively, ensuring a responsible and secure use of e-scooters on UK roads. This commitment to safety should reassure policymakers about the responsible use of e-scooters.

4. Trials and Success:
The UK government’s e-scooter trials in various cities have been successful, demonstrating their viability. For instance, in UK trials 6.5% of trips that would have been made by car or taxi/private hire vehicles were made by e-scooter. 32% of users within the trial combined their e-scooter journeys with public transport. Let’s build on this momentum. We are pleased the government has decided to extend e-scooter trials, however we think more could and should be done to legalise privately owned e-scooters.

5. Economic Boost:
Legalization fosters innovation, creating jobs in manufacturing, maintenance, and tech development. It also attracts investment in micromobility infrastructure.

Join us in advocating for sensible e-scooter legislation. Together, we can transform urban mobility and build a greener, more efficient future!

As of 11 June 2024, riding a privately owned e-scooter anywhere but on private land is still illegal. Shared/rental e-scooters can be ridden according to the terms and conditions of the scheme they are a part of.

For more information on how Micro Scooters are revolutinising micro mobility check out the work of our first electric car - the Microlino.

UPDATE 1 JULY 2020

We are pleased the UK government announced rental e-scooters will become legal on roads in Great Britain from 4th July 2020. We understand and fully support new methods of transport to help alleviate the pressure on public transport. We also believe this is a sensible decision amid the corona virus crisis.

However, we are disappointed private electric scooters are not included in the new regulations. We are huge supporters of micro-mobility solutions and believe private electric scooter ownership is a safer, more economical way of getting people from A-B compared to scooter sharing schemes. 

At Micro we are passionate about getting around in ways that are better for you, the environment and your pocket. It is why we continue to develop a range of Micro Scooters that allow you to get as much use out of your scooter as you can.

Designed to make the most of urban environments, electric scooters have seen a recent rise in popularity with both adults and children.

So, where are you ‘allowed’ to ride an electric scooter in the UK?

It is a question that we get asked from time to time and so here is the low down on the legality of riding an adult electric scooter and a kids electric scooter.

Ultimately, because electric scooters are part powered by a motor (albeit battery powered) it must comply with the relevant Highways Act.

This Act in the UK is currently based on a set of laws originally written in 1835 so there’s more information about horse and carts than there is electric scooters! Great if you are wondering where you should park your carriage…. But not if you’re wondering where you can ride your scooter. It seems that the part about pavement use has never been updated. Brilliant in terms of consistency, but not so good if you’re choosing to leave the car at home in favour of the scooter.

Electric scooters are categorised as a ‘Personal Light Electric Vehicle’ (PLEV for short). As they fall within the PLEV category they are governed by the aforementioned (and rather outdated) law which currently states that they are best used on private land in the UK (with permission naturally). The old Highways Act simply cannot place them into an existing category (because they don’t have pedals) so the law chooses not to place them in a category at all. Which we feel is possibly a little short-sighted *sigh*.

Can electric scooters be ridden in cycle lanes?

Unfortunately not. Because electric scooters are motorised but do not have pedals they are currently considered illegal for use on cycle lanes.

However, if you are riding an electric scooter in a cycle lane responsibly and with consideration for others we think it’s unlikely that the police would be concerned by this.

Can electric scooters be ridden on the road?

Electric scooters cannot be used on the road in the UK and we would advise against this. Motorists are not expecting to see you in and amongst traffic and you’ll be difficult to spot given your relative size. Because of the size of your wheels, they’re more likely to catch on drain covers and potholes, which can suddenly skew your course or even cause you to fall over.

Can electric scooters be ridden on a pavement?

Because electric scooters are motorised you cannot use them on a pavement. This goes back to the UKs Highways Act of 1835 which prohibits any ‘carriage’ to be used on the pavement.

Why is the UK so far behind the rest of the world when it comes to electric scooting?

In France you can ride an electric scooter in cycle lanes and on the pavement, providing you keep to a set speed limit. In Germany electric scooter use on pavements is legal up to 6 kph. Austria and Switzerland it is fine to ride your scooter in cycle lanes and on roads up to 25 kph. In California PLEVs are recognised as a legal way to get around as long as the rider is over 16 and wears a helmet (which we think is really rather sensible).

We are not entirely sure why the UK has yet to embrace the laws that other countries are adopting. With the shift to become more environmentally aware and the introduction of electric vehicles on the road then surely a change cannot be far off?

Get ahead of the curve and view our:

electric scooters for adults