Transport for London (TfL) and the London Councils have extended the capital’s trial of rental e-scooters until the autumn, in line with updated Department for Transport guidance.

More than one million trips have been made under London’s e-scooter rental trial, covering over 1.5 million miles and spanning all three operators taking part

The extension will allow the trial to further explore how e-scooters could play a role in a sustainable transport network and has been announced as the scheme celebrates a successful first year.

Since its launch, more than one million trips have been made, covering over 1.5 million miles, and spanning all three operators taking part in the trial – Dott, Lime and Tier.

TfL and the London Councils have also welcomed the news that legislation is to be introduced to regulate e-scooters; earlier this month, the Government announced that the forthcoming Transport Bill will introduce a new category of low-speed, zero-emission vehicles, which could include e-scooters, and ensure they are regulated, safe and licensed.

Anonymised data from London’s rental scheme is being used to assess how micromobility could make a positive contribution to transport in the capital, and the extension of the rental trial will enable TfL and London Councils to learn even more about this new category of vehicles before any new legislation come into force.

Helen Sharp, TfL’s e-scooter trial lead, said: “E-scooters could play an important role in ensuring a green and sustainable future for London and we’re really pleased to be able to extend the e-scooter trial to November. We’re working closely with operators, councils and people across London to build on the success of the trial so far and we’re pleased that people will continue to benefit until the autumn. The anonymised data we gather is crucial and we’ll be analysing this closely so that we can learn more about the role e-scooters could play in helping people move around London sustainably.”

London operators are also collaborating with UCL’s research facility PEARL to research and develop a standardised sound for rental e-scooters that could improve safety across the entire e-scooter industry by helping people, in particular those with visual impairments, identify rental e-scooters.