Wheels Finally In Motion As TfL Launch Tender For Capital’s e-Scooter Contract.

Transport for London and London Councils have launched a competition to select up to three operators for a 12-month trial of e-scooter rental, which is likely to start in the spring. 

Here’s how it is supposed to work.

The initial trial of e-scooter rental will mirror those already up and running in many parts of the UK under a Government-backed programme. 

E-scooter operators have been clamouring for a London trial, not only because the capital is a potentially lucrative market but because a scheme in the world city is expected to do wonders for raising the profile of this form of micromobility. 

It appears to have been overlooked that these e-Scooters will provide a quick and easy get away for phone muggers, exiting from the scene into Low Traffic Neighbourhood restricted side streets which police cars will not be able to pursue. 

Also overlooked by TfL in a bid to get their hands on the cash, is the amount of serious injuries to the public currently using these devices illegally.   

TV presenter and YouTube influencer Emily Hartridge collided with a lorry on her electric scooter and was tragically killed last year. 

This new initiative doesn’t make any sense. If you own your own e-scooter and ride it on the street, currently you can get a £300 fine....if you hire an e-scooter from Lyme (Uber) it’s perfectly legal ????

The question now needs asking, did TfL go easy on Uber’s licence appeal because they knew this new money making project would be soon in the offering ????

Transport for London has now published (30th December) the invitation to tender for a trial scheme that will last just twelve months. Insiders say it’s a forgone conclusion that the e-Scooters will reign supreme alongside TfL’s Santander bikes.

Michael Hurwitz, TfL's Director of Transport Innovation, said: 

"We're determined to make sure that London recovers from coronavirus as safely and sustainably as possible and are supportive of innovative solutions that could help. 

TAXI LEAKS EXTRA BIT :

As well as working on plans for an e-scooter rental trial, TfL and the boroughs continue to work on hundreds of Streetspace schemes across the capital, which are enabling people to walk and cycle more often. 

In addition to TfL’s  90km of new or  “upgraded” (virtually unused) temporary cycle lanes, either complete or under construction, they have all but killed off the high streets and parts of the City, with more than 22,500 square metres of segregated pavement space, created to allow virtually non existent people to maintain social distancing whilst walking. 

A drive around reveals central London has become ghost town apart form the congestion caused by TfL’s badly planned restrictive schemes. 

Also, under the cover of the pandemic, TfL and the boroughs have also installed 1,540 extra cycle parking spaces across London, focused around busy areas like high streets and transport hubs. 

We totally expect the statistics of killed or seriously injured e-Scooter riders to be swept under TfL’s carpet, in the same fashion as the 13,000 fake criminal record check DBS.