Plymouth launches e-scooter scheme with riders urged to learn the legal rules

Beryl e-scooters are now available to hire across Plymouth as part of the UK Government's National E-Scooter Trial.

The shared e-scooters are operating alongside the city's existing Beryl e-bike scheme, offering another transport option for residents and visitors.

A partnership between Plymouth City Council, Beryl and local social enterprise Bikespace will deliver the scheme.

It is expected to run for around three years and includes approximately £1 million of investment by Beryl in vehicles and local operations.

According to the partners behind the scheme, the trial is intended to assess how shared e-scooters can support greener and more accessible transport in UK cities.

Across Beryl schemes, around one in three e-scooter journeys replaces a private vehicle trip, while many riders report using e-scooters for journeys they would not otherwise have made.

People wishing to hire an e-scooter must be aged 18 and over, download the Beryl app, create an account and verify either a full or provisional driving licence before hiring a vehicle.

Journeys begin by unlocking a scooter through the app and must end at a designated Beryl Bay shown on the app.

E-scooters can be used on roads where cycling is permitted and on shared-use cycle lanes, but can not be used on pavements.

The launch has also prompted renewed advice about the difference between rental and privately owned e-scooters.

Rental e-scooters operating as part of Government-approved trials are legal to use on public roads and permitted cycle infrastructure within the trial area, provided riders meet the licence requirements and comply with road traffic laws. Insurance is included as part of the rental.

Vision Zero South West states: "If you own an e-scooter, you can only use it on private land, such as in a garden. But you must have the permission of the landowner to do so."

The road safety partnership also warns that anyone using a privately owned e-scooter in public risks the vehicle being seized under Section 165 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 for having no insurance.

It adds that riders who break the law while using an e-scooter could face penalties depending on the offence and the police force involved.

These can include penalties for riding without insurance or the correct licence, using a mobile phone while riding, ignoring traffic signals or drink-driving.

Vision Zero South West says: "If you cause serious harm to another person whilst riding an e-scooter/e-motorbike, the incident will be investigated in the same way it would if you were riding a motorcycle or driving a car."