1-1046 DfT TRSS10062 Investigation into the safe integration of e-scooters on UK public roads

Tender description

The Department for Transport (DfT) is seeking to contract for provision of services to conduct research into the safety of integrating electric scooters ('e-scooters') on public roads in the UK. This document sets out the proposed scope and requirements for this research project. E-scooters fall under an emerging category of personal transport often referred to as 'micro-mobility'. Micro-mobility is a rapidly developing area and new technologies are becoming more common around the world; in addition to e-scooters, this includes Segways, hoverboards, u-wheels, go-eds and powered unicycles. The DfT has coined "powered transporters" as the collective term to describe these types of device - defined as "a variety of novel personal transport devices which are mechanically propelled (propelled by a motor) as well as or instead of being manually propelled".Within the category of e-scooters, both seated and standing variants exist. The current research project is focussed on understanding the safety of standing e-scooters only; all other forms of powered transporter are considered out of scope however these may form the focus of future research. In addition, the scope of this research includes only adult e-scooters, not child e-scooters. In March 2019 the DfT published its Future of Mobility: Urban Strategy which set out the government's plans to undertake a Regulatory Review of four key areas of mobility including Mobility-as-a-Service, data sharing, bus, taxi and private hire vehicle legislation, and micro-mobility. This project will form part of the evidence base being considered during that Regulatory Review.