First e-bikes, next e-scooters? Edinburgh to consider testing more electric transport

Paris dumped its mass e-scooter scheme, but Edinburgh may be ready to (tentatively) embrace one

pic by Denniz Futalans, Pexels

Are they a big part of the future of urban transport – or a danger on our streets that is tough to regulate and enforce? Electric scooters divide opinion, but more may be coming to pavements and streets near you as Edinburgh looks to join cities down south in conducting large scale trials.

Gathering information on how the e-scooters perform in our busy urban spaces would appear to be a sensible step forward – but as Albert Einstein cautioned us: “Knowledge is realising that the street is one way: wisdom is looking in both directions anyway.” In other words, it’s how we use information and knowledge that counts…

And before we start out on our e-scooter journey, it is worth stressing one point: while legal to buy they are, in fact, illegal to use on our streets and pavements, and can only be used on private land with the express permission of the landowner. But enforcing that legislation for our over-stretched police is proving difficult the length and breadth of the UK, with an estimated 1 million private owners and users of e-scooters.

Despite the efforts of police e-scooters are becoming a common-enough sight on our streets as they zip through crowds of cars and pedestrians alike. Trials down south have highlighted both pros and cons. But change may be coming, despite the reservations of many.

Trials and tribulations

Trials of UK Government backed e-scooter rental schemes, run and controlled for local councils in England, have been ongoing for several years. Now Transport Scotland has confirmed to the Inquirer that it is “preparing the legislation necessary for trials and other policy work required to ensure that e-scooters can be introduced to Scotland in a safe and responsible manner”.

That means Scottish cities will be able to join trials down south. Transport Scotland told us: “The Scottish Government remain confident that e-scooters as a form of transport may have a role to play to support tackling climate change and increase access to services in the future.

“We were pleased to hear that the UK Government has now stated their intention to extend their shared e-scooter trials to May 2028 and that in the future Scottish Local Authorities will be eligible to apply.”

They added the caveat: “Until this legislation is put in place, it remains illegal to use an e-scooter on public roads, footpaths, and cycle lanes in Scotland.”

Transport Convener Stephen Jenkinson has expressed interest

Edinburgh’s transport convener Stephen Jenkinson has expressed interest in the city participating in future trials once enabling Scottish legislation is in place, telling the Inquirer: