Cllr Denham downplays Worcester's chances of e-scooter trial

Cllr Lynn Denham has said that there are no plans to implement e-scooters in Worcester, despite trials elsewhere. 

In 2020, the government announced that E-scooter trails were to be held across the UK in a variety of regions and cities.

Birmingham and areas in the West Midlands, as well as the nearby city of Gloucester, were included on the trial list.

READ MORE: Cllr Denham says public bike hire is coming to Worcester

Councillor Lynn Denham, co-leader of Worcester City Council. (Image: Councillor Lynn Denham)She said: "As far as I am aware there is no plan to implement e-scooters in Worcester, but active travel is very important to us.

"As Worcester City Council, we do have funding and are in the process of introducing a public bike hire scheme."

"A lack of bus services in Worcester is certainly an area of travel which I am keen to rectify.

"Lots of people rely on public transport to travel to jobs as well as getting and keeping them."

What are the rules?

In Worcester, as there is no e-scooter scheme privately owned e-scooters can only be used on private land where the public does not have access. Only trial e-scooters can be used on roads and cycle lanes.

In areas where there are e-scooter trials, you can use them on roads (except motorways) and in cycle lanes, but never on the pavement.

E-scooters do not need to be registered, display registration plates or pay vehicle excise duty and, although helmets are recommended, they are not a legal requirement.

You must also have a category Q entitlement on your driving licence to use an e-scooter.

A full or provisional UK licence for categories AM, A or B includes entitlement for category Q.

E-scooters can travel at a maximum speed of 15.5mph, and in some areas, they are limited to a lower maximum speed.

Birmingham recently saw its e-scooter trial with former provider 'Voi', a Swedish company, come to an end in March

New operator 'Beryl' now provides e-scooters in the city, which were first trolled out in June.

'Bird Rides UK' also ended its contract with Redditch Borough Council to operate the town’s e-scooter trial earlier this month.

Authorities in Redditch will now consider the future of the e-scooter trial, which currently has an end date of March 2024.

READ MORE: E-scooter rider seriously hurt after crash in Battenhall

On Monday, July 3 an e-scooter rider was taken to Worcestershire Royal Hospital after paramedics were called to the junction of Battle Road and Battenhall Road.

West Midlands Ambulance said it appeared that the man had fallen off the e-scooter.