Electric scooter hire is set to continue in selected Buckinghamshire towns following government’s plans to legalise e-scooters.

E-scooters are currently available for hire in Aylesbury, High Wycombe and Princes Risborough.

Now Buckinghamshire Council announced plans to extend its Zipp Mobility e-scooter trial in the three towns until May 2024 after Department for Transport extended the national e-scooter trial as the government investigates their impact and to allow legislation for the legalisation of e-scooters. 

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All other e-scooters except those hired from Zipp Mobility remain illegal to ride in public in Buckinghamshire.

Bucks Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Steven Broadbent said: “The trial has so far proved successful with a higher than expected take up.

“To date, more than 191,000 trips have taken place across the three trial areas.

“The extension of the trial will enable us and the DfT to gather additional usage data post-Covid, providing a better understanding of ‘normal’ use patterns and evidence about the safety, benefits and public perceptions of e-scooters.”

“I’d like to remind Zipp Mobility e-scooter users that they should only ride them on roads and cycleways.

“They are not allowed to be used on pavements. Any misuse of these e-scooters can be reported by emailing bucks@zippmobility.com.”

While privately owned e-scooters can be used on private land with permission from the landowner, they remain illegal to ride on the road, pavement or in a public space.

Riders caught doing so risk a large fine, points on their driving licence and seizing of their e-scooter.

The hire of e-scooters in the county creates zero costs to the Council as it’s run by the private company Zipp Mobility.

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In addition, the scooter trial supports the Council’s climate change and air quality strategy as e-scooters can be a low-carbon transport option for short trips.

CEO and Founder of Zipp Mobility Charlie Gleeson said: “We are delighted to be able to continue to contribute to Buckinghamshire Council’s ambitious climate action goals.

"This move is a clear recognition of the success of the trial to date and we look forward to improving on this over the next 18 months.”

Those wanting to rent an e-scooter must be at least 16-years-old, hold the correct driving licence (category Q or P/M) and create an account with Zipp Mobility, Thames Valley Police reminded. 

Buckinghamshire e-scooters have attracted criticism after a man was caught riding an e-scooter with a baby, a sausage dog was hit and killed by an e-scooter rider, and dumped scooters on footpaths.