The UK’s micromobility moment? Legislation, behaviour, and the human factor

Last week’s announcement that the UK Government is revisiting and reviewing micromobility, as part of the Government’s updated Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan – now including micromobility regulation – could shape the future of transport.

Here, James Scott, Director of Behaviour Change & Development at Cycling UK, explores what the announcement means and how this may come to impact the near-future landscape of micromobility in the UK.

The Government have just updated its Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan, which is part of the Industrial Strategy. Stay with me! This could be huge for the micromobility world as it will pursue legislative reform for micromobility vehicles.

It promises a clearer, faster, and more proportionate way to regulate Low-speed Zero Emission Vehicles: Think pavement delivery robots, e-scooters, and last-mile delivery vehicles.

(quick aside!) Pavement delivery robots got me thinking about consumer behaviour, and would robots change it? Without diving into another behavioural science rabbit hole, a quick Google tells me ‘yes’ – mostly by making shopping more convenient and frequent, and nudging people towards different channels. Novelty drives early curiosity, but long-term use comes down to price, speed, trust, and how well the service fits into daily life.

For the micromobility sector, this may mean certainty. Investors can see a defined route to market. Businesses can scale without fear of a sudden policy U-turn. And for the public, it could mean safe, legal, and better-integrated micromobility options, paired with stronger enforcement against irresponsible use. Win, win right?.

But here’s the thing, will regulation alone transform how people move through their cities.

Injecting behavioural science into the legislation

Clear rules create the framework for adoption, but people don’t just start using new transport modes because they can. Behaviour change is complex, if we use the COM-B model on this it tells us:

·     Capability: Do people know how to use an e-scooter safely? Are they physically able, confident, and skilled enough?

·     Opportunity: Is there infrastructure that makes it easy and pleasant to ride? Is it affordable? Does it integrate with public transport?

·     Motivation: Do people want to use it and do they feel it’s socially acceptable? Or is it still seen as a niche or risky choice?

Is the technology taking human behaviour into account?

Innovation in micromobility moves fast, but sometimes the technology races ahead of the people it’s meant to serve. If we want delivery robots, e-scooters, and other emerging modes to be a genuine part of daily life, we need to understand how humans adapt.

That means asking:

·       How will pedestrians and riders negotiate shared spaces?

·       Will legalisation shift public perception from “gadget” to “mainstream commuting tool”?

·       How do we make sure early adopters don’t define the culture in a way that deters wider uptake?

Shaping adoption from day one

If the UK gets this right, we won’t just regulate micromobility, we’ll embed it into the transport fabric in a way that sticks. That means combining regulatory clarity with behavioural insights:

·       Public education and awareness campaigns.

·       Infrastructure design that feels safe and intuitive.

·       Norm-setting that makes micromobility socially accepted — not just tolerated.

The opportunity ahead

The Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan gives industry a green light. But for cities and communities, this is about more than investment and market access, it’s about how people choose to move.

If we design with human behaviour in mind from the outset, micromobility could be a catalyst for cleaner, healthier, and more efficient cities. If we don’t, we risk another round of “promising tech” that never reaches its potential.

Be great to hear your thoughts