Where And How To Rent An Electric Scooter In London – Rules, Costs, Providers, And Addresses! (In 2022)
Do you want to rent an electric scooter in London? Then you are not alone! During the spring and summer period, the shared scooter is a frequently used means of transport, and its popularity is increasing.
Because of the entertainment and ease of transport, many tourists, but also residents, prefer the electric scooter over the well-known ‘tubes’ and red double-decker buses.
But how should you rent an e-scooter in London? Where can you find shared scooters in London? And, what are the rules regarding renting and driving e-scooters? You will get an answer on this page!
Rules and legislation in London
Since the introduction of e-scooters in London, the number of road accidents has increased. One of the most famous accidents is that of Emily Hartridge. This well-known British Youtuber collided with a truck in South West London.
Partly because of this, the rules have been tightened. The e-scooters are therefore illegal if you are the owner. However, that doesn’t stop locals and tourists from using them. You see them driving around everywhere. The only legal way to drive an electric scooter in London is to rent one.
According to an article by The Times, the city council is busy regulating e-scooters. It is expected that shared scooters and shared scooter apps will be introduced next summer, with a maximum speed of 25 km/h .
Is it legal to drive an electric scooter in London?
As mentioned, it is not allowed to drive around on your own electric scooter in London. The following rules apply to the use of a shared scooter since 2021:
- The minimum age is 16 years;
- There is a maximum speed of 25 km/h;
- You must be in possession of a moped or car driving licence;
- A helmet and reflective safety vest are not mandatory, but are recommended;
- It is not allowed to drive on the footpath;
- You use the cycle path and otherwise the motorway;
- You are not allowed to ride with two people on one electric scooter;
- Phone use during a ride is prohibited.
Where can you rent an electric scooter in London?
London has a number of e-scooter rental companies. ‘Fat Llama’ is a well-known rental company with a branch on Kennington (SE11) in London. You can hire an e-scooter for a whole day for £12 pounds.
At the moment there is only one place with 50 shared scooters: Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford. However, this is not a public place but a test place for the ‘Bird‘ electric scooters.
Which scooter share providers are active in London?
There are three providers operating in London: Dott, Lime and Tier. Each provider has its own app and different costs for using a sharing scooter:
Dott
Cost: £1 to unlock and £0.15 per minute to use
Lime
Cost: £1 to unlock and £0.16 per minute to use
Tier
Cost: £1 to unlock and £0.15 per minute to use
How does a sharing Scooter app work?
Almost every sharing scooter app works and costs the same. You can unlock the partial scooter for an amount of 15 cents per month and a starting rate of 1 euro. Curious how sharing scooter apps work? Go through the steps:
- Download the bird app and create a profile
- Walk to the nearest shared scooter on the map
- Scan the QR code and start riding
- Click on ‘End ride‘ at the end of the ride
- Leave the shared scooter in the indicated zones
How Scooter-Friendly is London
For many cyclists and electric scooter users, London is a city with a manual, especially if you are not used to the left-hand drive of Great Britain. Exploring London with the electric scooter can therefore be quite a challenge, but those who are well prepared for their trip will certainly be rewarded with a wonderful experience!
Where until recently cyclists and electric scooters in London often had to share the road with cars, significant investments have recently been made in separate bicycle paths and campaigns to make motorists more aware of cyclists on the road.
So are you planning to defy London by electric scooter? Then be sure to ride one of the specially composed recreational cycling routes. These routes ensure a safe and relaxing trip and come in different flavors, there is a ‘Quirky London’ route and a fun ‘Sporting sights’ route.
Also very handy are the free bicycle maps that you can get in the Travel Information Centers in the city. Here you will find all good cycle paths and routes in London where you can also perfectly drive an electric scooter. Recently, London has also been busy building ‘Cycle Superhighways’.
These special bicycle highways have been built for the residents so that they can quickly get to work in the city center in a sporty and environmentally friendly way.
So, with a little preparation, there are plenty of beautiful cycling routes that will take you through London in a safe and relaxed way. Driving along the Thames and through the large and green Hyde Park are also highly recommended!
Our tip: make a list in advance of sights and places you want to visit and then get the free cycling route map once you have arrived in London.
