'The genie's out of the bottle' - new e-scooter laws planned
New rules to regulate e-scooters are set to be introduced by the government, with Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander admitting that the "genie is out of the bottle" when it comes to their use.
Currently, only e-scooter hire schemes in areas such as the West Midlands are legal. Privately-owned e-scooters remain banned on public roads and pavements.
But, in an interview with BBC Politics Midlands, Alexander acknowledged the law was out of step with reality.
E-scooter users and pedestrians in Selly Oak, which sits within Birmingham's pilot hire scheme, had mixed views on legalisation when we asked them.
"If you buy an e-scooter yourself in somewhere like Halfords... you can only use that scooter by law on private land," Alexander told the BBC on a visit to Wolverhampton.
"But we all know that isn't happening."
The transport secretary said new laws would set clear rules on where privately-owned e-scooters could be used.
"I don't think for example they should ever be allowed to be used on pavements," she said.
Alexander added that regulations covering speed limits and safety requirements - such as lights and working brakes - would be introduced "as soon as parliamentary time becomes available".
E-scooters have become a familiar sight on Birmingham's streets in recent years.
A Transport for West Midlands hire scheme has been in place since 2020, and is set to be expanded in April.
Riders using it must be 18 and hold a provisional licence, with top speeds capped at 12.5mph (20.1 km/h).
The bright white and teal branding makes current operator Beryl's e‑scooters easy to spot.
But take a walk along the streets in the university suburb of Selly Oak and you are just as likely to see a mixture of privately owned e-scooters zooming around.
"I feel like it should be legalised", said Michael Ishawa, a biomedical science student at the University of Birmingham and a regular e-scooter renter.
"It's like a good alternative... if you're moving somewhere new and you don't have like a bicycle, you don't have your car."
Other riders though were more wary.
"I'm a bit on the fence really," said Julie Taylor, a professor of nursing.
"I have used them before... I quite enjoyed them.
"But equally as a pedestrian, I'm almost always being nearly run over by very fast ones... I don't think making them legal will keep people on the roads, they'll use them on footpaths."
"Maybe there needs to be training for people that have privately owned ones," said Ethan James, another student who rents e-scooters.
"As long as they're regulated...i t's another mode of transport at the end of the day.
"I mean, it depends on everyone's mindset... so for me, it is legal. I drive safely," said Lingadhar Ravichandran, who has owned his own e-scooter for over a year.
"It saves a lot of time for me and it's quite cheap as well. I spend around £200.
"A 30-minute walk to work becomes 10 minutes or 15 minutes by scooter."
Marketing postgraduate and pedestrian Janet Lee agreed with those who said they should not be legal, as she described seeing riders on busy roads alongside cars.
"It's quite dangerous for me actually," she added.
"If they literally just jump in front of you… whoever is driving, then we are the ones to get blamed," said university staff member Sami Kurd.
You can watch Politics Midlands from 10:00 GMT on Sunday in the West Midlands or on the iPlayer.
