This morning the @CommonsTrans are taking evidence on e-scooters.

First witnesses are @jillian_anable from @ITSLeeds at @UniversityLeeds and @graemesherriff from @SalfordUni

Jillian says that e-scooters can play a part in a less car dependent transport system and for younger people could delay car ownership or prevent car ownership altogether.

Graeme sees them as part of a sustainable transport future. He can see the benefits in terms of environment, health and also social inclusion as they are an affordable and accessible mode of transport.

Jillian is concerned that drivers licences are required for the trials, as it limits the accessibility as a mode. Its greatest merit is for people who don’t have a driving licence, and perhaps don’t aspire to have one.

And there is not a good rationale behind requiring a licence, and that this will damage public support.

She hopes that there will be a review of the ban on private scooters.

Jillian would like to see some of the trials in less dense urban areas, such as market towns.

. @RuthCadbury asks whether e-scooters will displace private car use, public transport or both, or will they shift people away from walking and non-assisted cycling and what will be the implications.

Jillian says that so far e-scooters have shifted people from walking, cycling and public transport.

She says that if you provide infrastructure for e-scooters (and other modes) then you will be taking roadspace from motorists.

If we can create options so that people don’t need to own a car and having a mindset of accessing different modes of transport, then they are much more likely to not use cars as much in the future.

Graeme says that although bikes have been promoted for the last 10 years, we haven’t had a big uptake in usage.

As you start to reduce car use, you make it more attractive for active travel modes.

Ruth asks if e-scooters will be an integral part of the urban environment

Jillian says that there is no doubt that we need infrastructure improvements. Facilities for sustainable transport, active transport and micro-mobility are not good enough.

We have a poor safety record for cycling in this country and this suggests that we will have a poor safety record for e-scooters compared to countries who have good infrastructure.

We aren’t thinking about longer distance segregated cycling routes, which would be particularly useful for e-bikes.

Jillian says that 65% of trips are under 5 miles but this is only 15-18% of the distance travelled, and even less of a percentage of the carbon emissions.

We really need to tackle the journeys over 5 miles to reduce our carbon emissions.

We need to look at the journeys between 5 and 15 miles that are very car dependent, and get people using alternative modes.

We need to look at journeys between small towns and from suburbs to outer town and get out of the urban bubble mindset.

Graeme says we must not think that e-scooters will fix our transport system. The integration with public transport is crucial.

We should think about mobility lanes not cycle lanes.

In countries like the Netherlands you can look at the inclusion aspect. The balance between gender and age groups is so much more diverse due to the good infrastructure.

It brings it away from an emphasis on very confident men who are more likely to cycle without infrastructure