London’s e-scooter trial is expanding again to include the borough of Camden, following a public consultation and Camden Council agreeing to join Transport for London’s (TfL) rental scheme.
TfL has been working with London boroughs and other organisations such as the Metropolitan Police and London Councils to develop proposals for a rental e-scooter trial in the capital. The aim of the trial is to provide an alternative option to private cars.
“The Covid-19 pandemic has changed how communities in Camden live, travel and work,” said councillor Adam Harrison, cabinet member for a sustainable Camden.
“We want our streets to have more space for everyone to walk and cycle, for you to be breathing cleaner air, for children to get to and from school safely and for businesses to be able to flourish.
“Rental e-scooters could be one solution, providing an alternative mode of transport that is emission free, potentially reducing the number of motor vehicles on our streets and easing pressures on the transport network, which is why we undertook an extensive consultation to hear the views from as many people as possible.”
The council undertook a consultation from 21 June to 12 July, with the feedback providing information on how the public and stakeholders perceive the proposals.
The trial will enable the public to hire free standing e-scooters, available for use on-street borough-wide, in a similar way to the dockless hire bikes already provided in Camden.
At the end of each journey the e-scooter will be required to be left within a designated parking bay, the majority of which the council will be providing on the road in place of motor vehicle parking spaces. The council said providing designated parking bays will help ensure that pavements are kept free of clutter, allowing pedestrians to move easily.
Harrison added: “Much of the current public opinion of e-scooters is largely based on their interaction with illegal privately owned vehicles, that can in some cases be ridden in a dangerous manner.
“It is important to note that there are several differences between these and the e-scooters that will be involved in the trial, and how they will be able to operate.”
It is anticipated that following the implementation of the required Experimental Traffic Orders, that e-scooters will be available to hire in the borough from the end of October.
Earlier this month the City of Westminster become the latest area to be included the trial, which launched in June covering Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham, Kensington & Chelsea, Richmond, Tower Hamlets and Canary Wharf. From July, the City of London, Lambeth and Southwark joined the trial.
