Key Points
- Redbridge Council urges the UK government for clear national regulation of e-scooters and e-bikes.
- The Council highlights the dangers of illegal and unregulated vehicles on public roads, pavements, and communal spaces.
- Council Leader, Kam Rai, calls for heightened enforcement by the Metropolitan Police in Redbridge.
- Redbridge Council joins other boroughs like Broxtowe and Enfield in voicing strong safety and enforcement concerns.
- Privately owned e-scooters remain illegal on public roads, pavements, and cycle paths across the UK.
- Metropolitan Police have seized thousands of illegal e-scooters as part of enforcement operations in London.
- Councils enforce zero-tolerance storage of e-scooters and e-bikes in communal housing areas due to fire risks.
- National confusion persists over varied regulation of rental versus private e-scooters.
- Public education, enhanced penalties, and stricter enforcement are identified as needed steps by authorities and stakeholder groups.
- Enforcement actions in other boroughs highlight widespread product safety breaches and associated fire risks from faulty e-bikes and e-scooters.
Redbridge Council has officially called upon the UK government and the Metropolitan Police Service for urgent and robust regulation to confront the escalating issue of illegal e-scooters and e-bikes operating on public roads and in communal spaces, citing risks to public safety, confusion among residents, and the pressing need for comprehensive enforcement.
Why Is Redbridge Council Demanding Stronger Regulations Now?
As published in an official statement by Redbridge Council (author not specified) on their website,
“Clear national regulation of all e-scooters and e-bikes is needed urgently, combined with increased enforcement from the Metropolitan Police in Redbridge and greater public education around the dangers and illegality of using these vehicles on public highways and pavements.”
The call to action comes amid concerns about accidents, anti-social behaviour, and inadequate national legislation which leaves councils and police facing mounting challenges.
Council Leader Kam Rai is quoted by Redbridge Council as stating:
“We support sustainable transport alternatives, but not at the cost of residents’ safety. We see too many examples of illegal use of privately owned e-scooters and illegally adapted e-bikes, and it’s time the government put clear, enforceable laws in place, backed by police action”.
Redbridge Council also revealed its collaboration with the Metropolitan Police to clamp down on offenders, as illegal vehicles are increasingly involved in incidents endangering pedestrians, motorists, and the riders themselves.
What Is the Current Legal Status of E-Scooters and E-Bikes in the UK?
Citing guidance from GOV.UK and analysis by iSinwheel journalist Adam Owen, privately owned e-scooters are not permitted on public roads, pavements, or cycle paths. The only legal use is on private land with the owner’s permission. They are classified as motor vehicles under the Road Traffic Act 1988, which means licensing, registration, and insurance are required—requirements that cannot be satisfied by any currently available private models.
Rental e-scooters, meanwhile, are only permitted within government-sanctioned trial areas and must be operated by individuals with at least a provisional driver’s licence. Operators handle all insurance requirements, and the legality is restricted to these carefully monitored environments.
Penalties for illegal use include:
- Fines up to £300
- Seizure of the vehicle
- Six points on the offender’s driving licence
- Prosecution in court, potentially leading to disqualification
How Widespread Are Enforcement Efforts and What Results Have They Yielded?
As highlighted by the Metropolitan Police Service and detailed in a London Assembly answer to Caroline Pidgeon of the Liberal Democrats,
“Over 1,100 e-scooters were seized in police operations throughout London during June alone, with 2,050 having been seized so far this year”.
Police tactics include ‘seize first’ approaches, regular patrols, and public awareness campaigns to target hotspots of illegal activity. Redbridge Council collaborates directly with police, leveraging education as well as enforcement to increase compliance.
What Are the Main Dangers of Unregulated E-Scooters and E-Bikes?
According to Redbridge Council’s statement, the key risks include:
- Collisions involving pedestrians and other road users.
- Fire risks related to lithium-ion batteries, which have led to several fatal incidents across the UK.
- Accidents due to unsafe or modified vehicles lacking proper safety features or exceeding speed limits.
- Antisocial behaviour and disruption in local neighbourhoods.
Islington Council’s prosecution of an importer for selling nearly 1,000 non-compliant e-scooters and e-bikes underscores the point, with Cllr Angelo Weekes saying:
“Unsafe e-scooters can pose a real danger, and we have zero tolerance for unsafe products in Islington. We take tough action to protect our residents and ensure their safety.”
In Broxtowe, a motion put forward urged stricter policing of speeding e-bikes and e-scooters, with local residents referring to high-powered models as “explosives on wheels.”
How Are Other Councils and Organisations Managing the Risks?
The London Borough of Enfield has adopted a policy of zero tolerance for e-scooter and e-bike storage in communal areas, enforced through tenancy agreements and regular inspections, citing the need to reduce the risk of fires and safeguard all residents.
Similarly, public transit operator Transport for London (TfL) has banned e-scooters and e-bikes from its network for safety reasons.
“Consent for e-scooters or e-bikes on Council properties is refused due to the risks associated with charging, particularly in shared buildings,”
reads a statement in the Enfield Council housing policy document.
Why Is There Ongoing Confusion Among the Public?
David Davies of the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS), as reported by the organisation’s blog and echoed by statements compiled from retail guides like Halfords and Electroheads, described the regulatory situation as “a gap”.
Private e-scooters may be bought and sold freely but using them beyond private property immediately places the user at risk of criminal penalties, with little public awareness or consistent product labelling to warn buyers.
With estimates of over 1.2 million e-scooters in use—most operating illegally—authorities face an uphill battle of education and enforcement.
A study regularly carried out by the government finds this legal ‘blind spot’ is contributing to unsafe behaviour and a lack of consumer clarity.
What Changes Are Being Proposed to National Regulation?
Redbridge Council’s motion, discussed formally in council meetings in June 2025, urges the government to:
- Bring forward a clear and comprehensive legal framework for e-scooter and e-bike operation.
- Adopt stringent design and safety standards covering speed limiters, braking, and battery quality.
- Equip police with further powers for instant confiscation and prosecution.
- Launch sustained national educational campaigns on the legal status of these vehicles and the penalties for illegal use.
As explained by Fleet News, the government has signalled intent to update laws around e-scooters to close loopholes and create a safer, more predictable environment for all road users—including provisions for victim compensation and better product standards.
Stakeholders across the country urge that these measures must be accompanied by strong enforcement and ongoing public engagement if they are to be effective.
What Is the Broader Context for Redbridge Council’s Action?
This latest call for action puts Redbridge Council at the centre of a wider national debate about the role of micromobility and transport innovation in British cities. Authorities, advocacy groups, retailers and the government all acknowledge the potential environmental and congestion benefits offered by e-scooters and e-bikes. However, without robust regulation and clear public information, these benefits are currently undermined by mounting safety concerns and legal inconsistencies.
Redbridge Council, supported by its counterparts and voices from the community, is insisting that the time has come for decisive leadership from Westminster, so that local authorities can keep pace with rapidly changing urban transport trends and protect all road users.
