Buckinghamshire Council green lights e-scooter trial until May 2024

The continuation of the e-scooter trial supports the council’s ambitions to be a ‘living lab’ for innovation. The scheme also supports the council’s Climate Change and Air Quality Strategy by promoting sustainable low-carbon transport alternatives for shorter trips.

The e-scooter trial is managed at zero cost to Buckinghamshire Council as it’s run as a private business by Zipp Mobility.

Steven Broadbent, Cabinet Member for Transport, said:

“The trial has so far proved successful with a higher than expected take up. To date, more than 191,000 trips have taken place across the three trial areas.

“The extension of the trial will enable us and the DfT to gather additional usage data post-Covid, providing a better understanding of ‘normal’ use patterns and evidence about the safety, benefits and public perceptions of e-scooters.”

Steven added:

“I’d like to remind Zipp Mobility e-scooter users that they should only ride them on roads and cycleways. They are not allowed to be used on pavements. Any misuse of these e-scooters can be reported by emailing: [email protected]”

Charlie Gleeson, CEO and Founder of Zipp Mobility, commented:

“We are delighted to be able to continue to contribute to Buckinghamshire Council’s ambitious climate action goals. This move is a clear recognition of the success of the trial to date and we look forward to improving on this over the next 18 months.”

Only e-scooters authorised through official trials can be used. Which means that in Buckinghamshire, only Zipp Mobility e-scooters are legal.

Privately owned e-scooters can only be used on private land, with the permission of the landowner. Riders cannot use a privately-owned e-scooter on the road, pavement or in a public space. If they do so, they risk receiving a large fine, points on their driving licence and the possibility of their e-scooter being seized.

You can find out more about e-scooter use on the Thames Valley Police website.