To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps to encourage a modal shift to micromobility vehicles such as (a) e-scooters and (b) e-bikes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make it his policy to offer free local hire of micromobility vehicles such as (a) e-scooters and (b) e-bikes for trial periods.

As part of our evaluation of the national e-scooter trials, we have been gathering information about modal shift and new journeys that have been enabled. This evidence will inform decisions about future policy for e-scooters and wider micromobility. We aim to publish the findings report from the evaluation later this year. Earlier this year we launched the national e-cycle support scheme to accelerate the uptake of e-cycles.

E-scooter trials, which are live in 30 areas across England, are run by local authorities who have held their own procurement exercises to appoint e-scooter operators to provide rental services. Charges for these services are agreed in each trial area between the local authority and the operator(s). Beyond trials, final decisions on the regulation of micromobility, including their hire, have yet to be made. A number of local authorities have used DfT funding to test approaches to providing e-cycles to those with the highest need, including those that cannot benefit from the cycle to work scheme.