Voi calls for a timeframe for e-scooter legislation

by Voi Public Policy Manager, Harry Foskin

As MPs returned to Westminster last week, the future of e-scooters was firmly back on the agenda. A meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Micromobility brought together MPs, Peers, Local Transport Minister Simon Lightwood, local authorities, and operators to reflect on five years of e-scooter trials.

What emerged was a clear and united message from the room: the UK needs legislation to secure the long-term future of shared e-scooters. This summer’s extension of the trials, until May 2028, needs to be the last.

At the meeting, Minister Lightwood recognised that the current lack of regulation is inhibiting further growth, and confirmed that government ministers are working to create a clear path to market. This reiterates the government’s commitment to act, as set out in the Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan released before the summer break.

What we need now is a clear timeframe. Riders, operators and councils alike need to see the government using the trial extension period to bring forward legislation that unlocks shared micromobility for any council that wants it, and better regulates private e-scooters. 

Why certainty matters

Shared e-scooters are transforming how people move. Across the country, Voi has replaced an estimated 17 million car journeys, delivering two-thirds of all e-scooter trial trips. Our vehicles are no longer a novelty – they’re an essential part of the UK’s integrated transport ecosystem. The trials have shown that when people are given the option, micromobility helps reduce car use, supports greener travel, and drives progress toward net-zero.

But the absence of a clear timeframe for legislation is holding back this potential.  We’ve spoken with more than a dozen councils who want shared e-scooters but, until the trial extension, were unable to offer them. Making shared e-scooters a permanent fixture in our towns and cities would also give the industry the certainty to invest further and continue transforming how people move through urban areas – helping meet government ambitions in the process. Voi has invested around £100 million into the UK market so far, in our vehicles, warehouses, teams, and infrastructure. Although not insignificant, this figure would be considerably higher if the legislative pathway were clearer. 

An economic growth engine waiting to be unleashed

Voi’s e-scooters have become an integral part of many people’s daily lives in the towns and cities we operate in. Over 30% of our riders in places like Oxford and Cambridge rely on our vehicles for commuting to work or university, for example, whilst 16% use our vehicles for shopping and to run errands. Economic impact analyses show our services bring an average of £78 million to high streets annually. Legislation could unlock these benefits for even more communities.

The need to address the safety issues of private e-scooters

Legislation isn’t just about growth – it’s also about safety. Over a million unregulated private e-scooters are now estimated to be on UK roads. Unlike rental e-scooters, privately owned models aren’t required to meet Department for Transport safety standards and are rarely maintained by professionals. By legislating for shared micromobility and better regulating private e-scooters, the government can make our streets safer and boost perceptions of micromobility.

We’re ready to make legislation happen.

At Voi, we’re ready to work closely with ministers to get legislation timetabled and its contents right. The government has acknowledged the importance of this issue and the economic opportunity it presents. The extended trials give us a deadline to work towards, and a cross-party group of MPs and Peers is pushing for action in the shape of the APPG for Micromobility.

But we can’t do it alone. If you believe in greener and more connected cities, now is the time to make your voice heard. Contact your MP, share your story, and help keep this issue high on the political agenda.