A number of e-scooter and e-bike operators, potential operators and mobility platforms, including Ireland’s lead ride hailing app and multi-mobility provider FREE NOW, have sent a letter to Transport Minister Eamon Ryan calling on him to see that the proposed legislation for e-scooters receives its full consideration and passage over the coming weeks.
The Programme for Government- published last year- included a pledge from the Government to ‘legislate for e-scooters and e-bikes’. And on February 1 this year, the Government approved the drafting of legislation to allow for their regulation. One of the main provisions of the Road Traffic (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill is to legislate for the use of e-scooters, and this will ultimately allow them to be used legally and safely in a public place.
FREE NOW are amongst a group of operators, potential operators and mobility platforms who have written to the Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan TD to see that the Bill receives its full consideration and passage over the coming weeks in order to allow passengers to enjoy the benefits of e-scooters throughout the late summer and early autumn months.
They are asking the Government to “commit to a timeline to implement this important legislation”. In their letter, which is attached, they also state: “We believe that it is vital that legislation is prioritised and finalised as soon as possible to allow all relevant processes to take place to ensure we have scooters deployed in the late summer / early autumn months.”
10th June 2021
Mr Eamon Ryan TD Minister for Transport Department of Transport Kildare Street
Dublin 2
Dear Minister
We are writing to you as a group of e-scooter and e-bike operators, potential operators and mobility platforms. We are all hugely supportive of the work being undertaken by the Government to legislate for e-scooters as part of the Road Traffic (Miscellaneous) Bill.
We were delighted to see that it is contained in the Summer Legislative Programme. Our ask is to ensure that the Bill receives its full consideration and passage over the coming weeks in order to allow passengers to enjoy the benefits of e-scooters in the Summer and Autumn. Multi-modality will be a hugely important element of our re- opening, ensuring that people have a range of transport options available to them. We would ask the government to commit to a timeline to implement this important legislation.
E-scooters have been found to be a safe and enjoyable transport mode. Many of the signatories to this letter have experience in other countries and understand the need to ensure that safety of passengers and other road users must be paramount. We believe that it is vital that legislation is prioritised and finalised as soon as possible to allow all relevant processes to take place to ensure we have scooters deployed in the late summer / early autumn months.
As the pandemic draws to a close we are keen to continue to support a safe re- opening. We are eager to work with government, regulators and other stakeholders to ensure that scooters are a safe, reliable and enjoyable option for passengers.
Yours Sincerely,
Niall Carson, General Manager, FREE NOW Ireland
Fred Jones, Regional General Manager for Northern Europe, TIER Mobility
Thomas O’Connell CEO and Founder Moby
Jack Samler, General Manager UK & Ireland, Voi
Will O’Brien, Vice President, Growth & Government Affairs Zipp Mobility
David O’Reilly, Chief Commercial Officer, Zeus
Felix Peterson, Head of Europe, Spin