WEST Mercia Police are reminding people about the rules surrounding e-scooters after an increase in their use across the force area, writes Jonathan Coste.
E-scooters are available to buy, but illegal to use on pavements, cycle lanes and pedestrian-only areas.
Currently e-scooters are classed as Personal Light Electric Vehicles (PLEVs) by the government and fall under the same laws and regulations that apply to all motor vehicles.
Users would need to ride them on the roads but only when they were registered, taxed, insured and have an MoT in place. Riders would also require a driving licence.
But, as there is no mechanism in place now to obtain any of these for e-scooters, their use in public areas remains illegal.
In the West Mercia policing area of Herefordshire, Shropshire, and Worcestershire there is only one e-scooter trial, based in Redditch.
Therefore, unless part of this loan scheme, e-scooters can only be used on private land with the permission of the landowner.
Parents are being urged to know the law before buying, or allowing their child to ride an e-scooter.
Anyone found using an e-scooter in a public areas risks having it seized by the police.
