Decision details

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic Government are delivering a green restart of local transport.

The government consulted on urgent legislation to allow trials of rental e-scooters to commence more rapidly and in more areas than initially planned.

To support this and to help mitigate reduced public transport capacity e-scooter trials will be brought forward. The Department for Transport (DfT) is reviewing the regulations that apply to e-scooters as part of its Future of Transport programme.

TVCA are registering an interest to be a trial area and are working with a provider and are seeking support from Highway Authorities in the Tees Valley to support the bid to DfT to become a trial area.

Financial/staffing/health & safety (incl virus transmission risks)/service delivery impacts/other risks and impacts considered:
Cabinet were presented with a number of risks identified at the bid stage of the project that would need to be overcome to allow e-scooters to be allowed on Darlington roads should the bid be successful.

Equality Impacts:
An equality impact assessment would need to be undertaken if the bid is successful.

To support the bid; subject to further detail and any outstanding safety, legal and other considerations identified being satisfactorily resolved prior to introduction.

Reason: To enable the Tees Valley to submit a bid.

To not participate in the bid process.