E-Scooter Trial Halted After Five Years
E-scooters are slated for withdrawal from a significant area under fresh transport proposals, meaning these eco-friendly vehicles will be "temporarily" out of service.
Essex County Council has announced that it will be retrieving the e-scooters used in its trial programme as it transitions its services to a different operator.
This change follows the end of the existing agreement for supplying shared e-scooters in Essex, which finished on Wednesday, 13 August 2025.
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Since their introduction in 2020, e-scooters have become a well-liked way for people to get around Essex, with the trial period being prolonged annually.
GETTY
Due to hold-ups with the contract, the e-scooter hire schemes in Essex have been put on pause.
Reports indicate that the initiative has facilitated in excess of three million trips throughout Braintree, Chelmsford, and Colchester.
The local authority stated: "The council wishes to express its gratitude to Dott, the present service provider (formerly known as Spin and subsequently Tier), for their input over the last five years."
Sadly, because Dott's agreement has ended and there have been unforeseen holdups in securing a new one, you won't be able to rent e-scooters in Essex for a while.
Even though it seems the contract will be re-negotiated, those using the e-scooters have been warned against it, as they could still be fined.
PA
E-scooters have been a feature of Essex life since 2020.
Councillor Tom Cunningham, the Cabinet Member responsible for Highways, Infrastructure, and Sustainable Transport, commented: "We're chuffed with the contribution that shared e-scooters have made, assisting thousands of Essex locals in opting for greener ways to get around."
As we progress to the next stage of the service, we're still dedicated to increasing environmentally friendly transport choices and anticipate revealing a new supplier in the near future.
In the UK, the legal use of e-scooters is restricted to designated trial zones, where authorised companies have been given the go-ahead by local councils to run services.
Any e-scooter found on UK roads that is not in a trial area is deemed illegal, with riders slapped with hefty penalties for breaking the rules.
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The British Transport Police have stated: "According to the Road Traffic Act 1988, e-scooters are legally considered motor vehicles. Consequently, e-scooters are subject to the same regulations as other motor vehicles, such as the requirement for a valid driving licence and insurance."
"It's not currently possible to get insurance for privately owned e-scooters. This means it’s illegal to use them on the road or in public spaces, such as parks, street pavements, and shopping centres."
The police warned that they can issue fixed penalty notices to riders of the e-scooters if caught breaking the law. This includes a £300 fine and six penalty points on a driving licence for having no insurance, as well as a £100 fine and three to six penalty points for riding without the correct licence.
Riders can also be fined £50 if caught riding on a pavement and given a £200 fine as well as six penalty points for using a mobile phone or other handheld mobile device while riding.
TFL
E-scooters can only be used in trial areas across the UK
Other penalties include a £100 fine and possible penalty points for riding through red lights, but more shockingly, riders can be fined the same as drivers for drink/drug offences
This could be as much as court-imposed fines, a driving ban and possible imprisonment in more serious cases.
In a more recent example, last month, Essex Police confiscated a privately-owned e-scooter caught on the A131.
The e-scooter was being operated without any lighting, while the rider was not wearing appropriate safety equipment and was barely visible to other road users.