Labour Confirms New Laws for E-Scooters and E-Bikes This Year

Labour has confirmed it plans to introduce new legislation to regulate electric scooters and e-bikes later this year, amid mounting public concern over their growing use.

The commitment was made during questions in the House of Commons, where MPs raised issues around safety, antisocial behaviour and the widespread illegal use of privately owned e-scooters.

Ministers said the Government intends to bring forward a full legal framework for micromobility vehicles as soon as parliamentary time allows. While rental e-scooter trials will continue, the aim is to provide long-term clarity on how the vehicles should be used and regulated.

Transport Minister Simon Lightwood told MPs that the trials have been extended until May 2028 to give local authorities more time to assess how e-scooters operate in real-world conditions.

“We remain committed to legislating for the full regulation of micromobility,” he said. “Extending the trials allows us to understand how these vehicles can work safely and effectively for everyone.”

Concerns were raised over the misuse of privately owned e-scooters, which remain illegal to ride on public roads, pavements and cycle lanes. Police continue to confiscate scooters and issue penalties, despite estimates suggesting around one million are already in circulation across the UK.

Tom Hayes, MP for Bournemouth East, said his constituency has seen a sharp rise in e-scooter seizures, describing their misuse as a serious antisocial issue. He told the Commons that residents had raised concerns about scooters being linked to criminal activity, including drug dealing.

Hayes called for tougher measures to be considered, including compulsory registration and identification plates to make riders easier to trace.

In response, Mr Lightwood said any future rules would be developed through a public consultation and could include options such as registration or number plates, but stressed that decisions must be based on evidence and stakeholder input.

“Any future framework will be subject to public consultation before being enacted,” he said.

However, Conservative MP James Wild questioned the Government’s approach, highlighting frustration among owners of private e-scooters who have waited years for legal clarity. He criticised the repeated extension of trials, arguing that proportionate regulation should already be in place.

Rental e-scooter trials were first launched in 2020 and were originally due to end this year. The latest extension, pushing the deadline to 2028, is intended to allow further analysis of safety risks, impacts on pedestrians and disabled people, and how micromobility fits within different transport networks.

Mr Lightwood said the extended timeline would also provide greater certainty for local authorities and operators, while giving ministers the evidence needed to design effective and balanced legislation.

Government guidance on the trials states their purpose is to build a strong evidence base on safety, public attitudes and wider social impacts before any permanent legal changes are made.