Electric Scooter Trial in Camden

Overview

The Covid-19 pandemic has changed how communities in Camden live, travel and work. We want our streets to have more space for everyone to walk and cycle, for you to be breathing cleaner air, for children to get to and from school safely and for businesses to be able to flourish. Whether it’s an essential journey like taking your children to school, getting to work or just popping out to enjoy your local park we want you to love where you live, and to love Camden.

On the 7th June 2021 Transport for London launched a trial on the use of rental electric scooters across some parts of London. A number of London boroughs including Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham, Richmond upon Thames, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and Tower Hamlets (ride through only) are taking part. Canary Wharf is also taking part. The City of London and the City of Westminster plan to join the trial on the 5th July 2021.

Camden Council is now consulting on taking part in this trial. 

Rental e-scooters could provide an alternative mode of travel that is emission free while being used for commuting, accessing local services and leisure trips. This would meet our Camden Transport Strategy policies, which include our aspiration to “develop and implement a range of initiatives that promote and provide attractive, convenient and safe alternatives to private cars and other forms of motor traffic”.

The Camden Citizens’ Assembly on the Climate Crisis has developed 17 actions that should be taken by residents, community groups, businesses and Camden Council to tackle the climate crisis. Taking part in the trial would also help meet action 10 which is to enable electric transport with infrastructure and incentives.

The trial is particularly important as a means of helping to reduce the potential impacts of a car-led recovery as Covid-19 restrictions continue to be eased.

Why your views matter

We are consulting on a proposal for Camden to take part in the Transport for London electric scooter hire trial and to gather views and feedback on the way in which we would manage the trial if it went ahead. For example we would like your views on areas where the electric scooters could be parked or collected from and where their use would not be allowed.

To view more information on the electric scooter trial click on the links in the Related Section at the bottom of this page.

What happens next

 As the consultation is now closed, your views, and those of everyone who contributes to this consultation, will be analysed and considered, alongside relevant data available on the scheme and in light of how the scheme aligns with our current policy objectives, in order to put forward recommendations on whether to proceed with the proposals. 

 A summary of this analysis will be provided in the decision report, and will be made available on the Camden Council website in due course.

If you have any ideas for improvements to make travel safer and healthier in this area, please go to Safe Travel Camden Map  to make some suggestions.