London’s e-scooter trial will launch into its tenth borough on Monday [27 September], as the expansion into Camden goes live.
Transport for London (TfL), Camden Council and London Council announced the expansion in August, and will join Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham, Kensington & Chelsea, Richmond, Tower Hamlets (including Canary Wharf), City of London, Lambeth, Southwark and Westminster in the micromobility rental scheme.
TfL reported that there have been 165,000 trips made on the hired e-scooters since the trial launched, with the average rental lasting 22 minutes over an average distance of 2.8km.
As Camden joins the trial area, the number of vehicles in the trial will increase to a maximum of 3,480. The number of vehicles has quadrupled since June and TfL said it has worked with London Councils and the London boroughs to ensure that high safety standards have been met by closely monitoring the trial.
Both users and non-users of the rental vehicles can give feedback and report incidents to e-scooter operators directly, either by using the contact details displayed on the vehicles or through operators’ apps.
Helen Sharp, TfL’s e-scooter trial lead, said: “We’re really pleased that Camden has joined London’s rental e-scooter trial and we have worked closely with them to ensure that this expansion meets the needs of everybody in the area.
“Safety continues to be at the heart of our trial and we continue to work with the e-scooter operators, London Councils and the London boroughs to ensure rigorous standards are being met.
“London’s e-scooter trial continues to provide data and insight into the long-term role e-scooters could play in a green and sustainable future for the capital, as well as the role they can play in avoiding a car-led recovery from the pandemic.”
The use of privately owned e-scooters on public roads remains illegal. The Metropolitan Police continue to undertake enforcement activity to deal with illegal e-scooter use.
