October 2020
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37
News
Legal e-scooter trial expected to start soon
T
hey may have become a common sight being ridden on roads and pavements across the Stokes in recent months, but every rider you see is likely to be breaking the law. This is because anyone using a ‘powered transporter’ on public land is required to have both a driving licence and valid insurance, and the latter is not currently available for privately owned e-scooters. However, the government has begun a series of trials across the country in which rented e-scooters can be ridden legally because the hire company provides the necessary insurance. Locally, the West of England Combined Authority (Weca) is accelerating e-scooter trials to provide alternative ways to travel while social distancing is in place on public transport. Two types of hire schemes are expected to be available very soon: hop-on, hop-
Credit: Marco Verch; licence CC BY 2.0
off hire (similar to YoBike) and longer term lease hire. Hop-on hop-off e-scooters will be available from autumn 2020 in central Bristol and Bath and at other key locations such as stations, universities and hospitals in Bristol’s North Fringe. Longer term lease hire
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e-scooters will also be available across the whole West of England region covering Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire. The trial will run for 12 months and, if successful, e-scooters could become a permanent, sustainable option for travel in the region.
PAINTING & DECORATING
The trial e-scooters can be rented by anyone with a full or provisional driving licence and can be used legally wherever cycles are permitted. Personal e-scooters, outside of the trial, remain illegal on pavements and the public highway. More information on the West of England e-scooter trial can be found at travelwest.info/ projects/e-scooter-trial Avon and Somerset Police have said they are taking a lenient approach to the illegal use of e-scooters unless they are being driven dangerously. Their policy is to apply the three ‘E’s approach – engage, explain and educate, before moving to the fourth, which is enforcement. This can ultimately lead to an e-scooter being seized and destroyed. The Bristol Post recently reported that the police have so far confiscated “around 100” e-scooters across the force area.
PAINTING & DECORATING
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www.amanpestcontrol.co.uk
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07816 854978
Tel: 07400 000084
Email: r_murphy35@hotmail.com
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