Transport for London is planning to increase the speed of e-scooters and reduce the age limit for riders.

The Daily Telegraph reports the speed limit increase is being considered despite 35 people having been “detained in hospital” since the trial of the scooters in the UK was launched in 2021.

Currently, the capital’s fleet of nearly 5,000 rental e-scooters cannot exceed a speed of 12.5mph, but a report by London Councils, the city’s local government association, has revealed that TfL wants to raise that limit to 15.5mph.

It also says TfL is considering reducing the age limit for all e-scooter manufacturers in the trial to 16, as long as the rider has a provisional driving licence.

However, the report, by the chair of the London Council‘s Transport & Environment Committee, notes that the relaxing of rules can only happen once a “geofencing” safety issue is resolved.

(File picture – Voi)