Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to control secure (a) e-bike and (b) e-scooter parking in identified parking areas; and if he will bring forward legislative proposals on the creation of (i) regulations and (ii) parking infrastructure for (A) e-bikes and (B) e-scooter hire schemes.

E-bikes follow the same traffic rules as bicycles, so that it is an offence for them to obstruct the highway, including the pavement. In some cases, e-bikes may be parked on the pavement if they do not cause an obstruction. An obstruction is an offence under the Highways Act and is enforceable by the police.

E-scooter rental trials are live in 25 areas across England, were launched in July 2020, and will be running until 31 May 2024. The Department has also published guidance for local authorities and e-scooter operators on running trials. It has required them to engage with local police forces and accessibility groups in designing their proposals, to mitigate potential non-compliance and manage e-scooter parking.

When parliamentary time allows, The Government intends to introduce legislation which would enable local authorities to manage rental services of bikes, e-bikes and e-scooters. This will allow them to regulate rental micromobility schemes and tailor them to local priorities and considerations while still ensuring a baseline national standard of service provision. It would also include the ability to manage fleet sizes, parking arrangements and access to the rental market.