Micromobility providers are rebuffing Transport for London’s e-scooter rollout as the capital’s e-scooter operators continue to question regulations around trials.
TfL opened the bidding for the next phase of its e-scooter experiment last week, but major electric bike operators are set to snub the chance to introduce e-scooters into fleets of rental vehicles across the capital, City AM reports.
Forest, which operates thousands of bikes across London, is not expected to compete with Lime and Voi for the contract, while Bolt and Dott, who operate e-scooters in Bristol and Nottingham, are also unlikely, for now, to take part in TfL’s trial, which is scheduled to end in May 2028 having begun five years ago.
The procurement notice predicts an estimated turnover of £34.5m for two operators, but industry leaders fear e-scooters are not commercially viable. Low usage and tight regulation around e-scooter speeds and licences have put leading businesses off taking part in the third phase of the trial.
The data from the first two phases of the trial paints an underwhelming picture of growth when compared to e-bikes. Its phase one numbers, collected from 2021 to 2023, recorded 3.3 million total trips while the second phase saw trip numbers climb to just 3.9 million by 2025.
The result of Forest’s stance is a two-operator tussle between the incumbent industry heavyweights, Lime and Voi.
Lime remains bullish, viewing e-scooters as a small extra running cost alongside its dominant bike fleet, while Voi, the capital’s more affordable option, with 1.2 million trips under its belt, has also confirmed plans to bid, dubbing the vehicles as a “go-to option” for sustainable travel.
Dott and Bolt remain more cautious, with the former indicating it is “unlikely” to apply, citing weak demand and heavy red tape.
Shared e-scooters remain limited to a 12.5mph cap and require a drivers’ licence while private and unregulated scooters continue to illegally flood London’s streets.
“The constant risk of the trials coming to an end with no legislation holds back investment and confidence in the UK,” James Bolton from Voi has previously said.
(Picture: London Borough of Wandsworth)
