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The highly-anticipated announcement surrounding e-scooter legislation failed to materialise during the Queen’s Speech 2022 on Tuesday (10th May).
During this year’s Queen’s Speech, this year carried out by the Queen’s son Prince Charles due to the reigning monarch’s health, the Government announced its plans for the upcoming parliamentary session.
Micromobility retailers and campaigners had been expecting an update on the legalisation of private-use electric scooters, after transport secretary Grant Shapps said last month that an update would be included in the speech.
However, there was no direct mention of electric scooters in the speech or the supporting documents, instead there was a minor reference to the upcoming transport bill.
Giving the speech to the nation, Prince Charles said: “My Government will improve transport across the United Kingdom, delivering safer, cleaner services and enabling more innovations. Legislation will be introduced to modernise rail services and improve reliability for passengers.”
There was no mention of electric scooters in the background briefing notes, published by the Government alongside the speech.
Instead the briefing document offered further details on the Transport Bill, which will simplify the railways to ensure a more reliable service for passengers.
The document also says the purpose of the bill is to: “Keep the UK at the forefront of transport innovation, helping deliver the reforms we have promised to decarbonise transport, transform the way we travel, and better connect communities.”
The document adds one of the benefits of the bill will be to “enable innovation in transport, improving safety and providing new choices for the public, whilst attracting investment to the UK.”
It’s possible that the updated legislation on e-scooters, and potentially their legalisation, will be included in their bill.
On 27th April, Mr Shapps told the House of Commons Transport Committee that the Government plans to introduce legislation to allow the Government to regulate e-scooters in the 2022-23 parliamentary session.
Read more: Sight loss charities urge Government not to legalise e-scooters
The Government will then be able to regulate e-scooter standards concerning speed, power, lights and other details.
A Government report into e-scooter safety, based on trial rental schemes being run across the country, was due to be published in “late spring 2022,” but has not yet materialised.
