Since the dawn of time, humanity has been searching for new and exciting ways to get from place to place. Faster. Easier. With minimal effort.
The electric scooter is the latest vehicle to tick those boxes. And it’s got so much going for it.
It’s nippy. Easy to carry around. And electric scooters nowadays are even kinder to the environment than many other forms of transport.
However: there are obstacles. Here in the UK, it’s currently illegal to use e-scooters on public highways. They must only be used on private land, and with the permission of the landowner.
Don’t fear the e-scooter!
So, why is the electric scooter getting a rough ride right now? Should we be worried about them?
Well no, of course not, otherwise they’d be banned altogether.
They’re not, and there are plenty of ways for you to have fun on them.
It’s about being sensible. Being safe. Knowing the rules and abiding by them.
Take a look at the current UK Government rules regarding private e-scooter use here.
Also, this isn’t the first time a revolutionary form of transport has found it hard to gain traction in the eyes of the public – as well as legal approval. We uncovered that bicycles, motor cars, trains, and even ancient Roman chariots all had a difficult time convincing everyone at one point or another. And while you might struggle to spot a chariot-riding centurion heading home on the dual carriageway after a hard day’s conquering and pillaging, you’ll see plenty of bikes, cars, and trains happily whizzing about nowadays.
Are e-scooters on track to being road legal in the UK?
The fact is that each of these forms of transport overcame the doubters in style, going on to become hugely popular the world over. For everyone who feared the car would be a noisy, dirty threat to horses, there were those who could see the practical benefits of motorised transport. For everyone who thought that the bicycle was nothing but a passing fad for Suffragettes that turned pavements into danger zones, there were those who could see the health and environmental benefits of human-propelled personal transportation.
There’s no reason why the electric scooter shouldn’t be able to follow in their hallowed wheel-tracks. Privately-owned e-scooters are perfectly road legal now in many countries around the world, such as Germany, Spain, France, Sweden and even the United States. In each case, e-scooters have become part of the traffic system thanks to safety laws and legislations including speed limits, use of front and rear lights, and restrictions on which kinds of road riders can travel on (motorways, road tunnels and pavements are generally banned).
In New York City, where traffic is generally a nightmare, electric scooters are thriving as a quick, fun, and green way to get around. There, you have to be over 16 to ride on the road, and any users under the age of 18 have to wear protective gear.
So, with changes to the law, privately-owned electric scooters could soon become street-legal in the UK too. In fact, you can already hire them in many cities across the country.
[Outro]
If you’re ready to join the motorised scooter craze, then we’ve got a huge range of electric scooters for men, women and kids alike. From the super-speedy Mi Electric Scooter(with a maximum speed of 15.5mph), through to Zinc electric scooters (some with a more child-friendly maximum speed of 5mph), we’ve got a great selection of e-scooters, for anyone of any age.
Go on. Get your scoot on.