Electric scooters ?

venomx

Not quite sure whether buying one is a good idea ? If i had one I’d use my helmet and ride sensibly 

however on the GOV website it clearly states they’re illegal on paths and roads , and the police have the right to fine you £300

what do you guys think ?

AdrianC

Some may be legal. Many are not. Any and every motor vehicle - whether electric or internal-combustion - is legally regulated. If they are not explicitly legal, they are illegal. There is no grey area, no matter how hard people may wish there to be.

https://www.gov.uk/electric-bike-rules

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/legalising-rental-e-scooter-trials-defining-e-scooters-and-rules-for-their-use/legalising-rental-e-scooter-trials

Highland76

What's so difficult to understand? You want to know if its ok to break the law?

Car_54

AdrianC said:

Some may be legal. Many are not.

Which electric scooters are legal?

Any mechanically propelled vehicle used on the road must be registered, licensed and insured.

venomx

Highland76 said:

What's so difficult to understand? You want to know if its ok to break the law?

No it’s how so many people seem to have them and they are sold all over the web from legitimate companies 

twhitehousescat

Car_54 said:

AdrianC said:

Some may be legal. Many are not.

Which electric scooters are legal?

Any mechanically propelled vehicle used on the road must be registered, licensed and insured.

the electric "scooters" that are Slowwwwwww, do not require licence , or insurance 

coffeehound

No different from an electric bicycle then really

Tigsteroonie

Electric (stand-on) scooters are not yet legal for use on pavement, cycle paths nor roads in the UK. There was talk of accelerating a trial of them in certain cities (I remember Birmingham volunteering) but have read nothing about that actually having started. They are available for sale as they can be used on private land; I just don't have a huge stately home estate in which to use one ... I do rather fancy one as an option for commuting, so long as I can use the cycle lanes to do so.

There will still be prats who ride them against the rules, whatever the rules turn out to be, just as there are cyclists who think it's okay to jump a red light. Last week I saw a scooter prat riding on the road, keeping up with his mate on their bicycle who was on the pavement; both were coming towards me, so this scooter was being ridden on the road against the flow of traffic. Such prats will probably be why scooters won't be legalised for road use.

AdrianC

coffeehound said:

No different from an electric bicycle then really

Yes, very different - because electric bicycles have to be pedal-assisted, have to be meet certain requirements (such as speed and power caps).

Car_54 said:

AdrianC said:

Some may be legal. Many are not.

Which electric scooters are legal?

Depends on your definition of "scooter".

If the OP meant an equivalent to a child's kick-scooter, then none currently that I'm aware of - but I already linked to the government consultation that's just concluded.

If they meant an equivalent to a 50cc or 125cc motorcycle, then plenty.
Legal overview: https://www.green-mopeds.com/electric-moped-motorcycle-and-road-legal-scooter-faqs-3-w.asp

Any mechanically propelled vehicle used on the road must be registered, licensed and insured

Some classes do not require any or all of those.

EAPCs, electric bicycles, are one that require none. Class 2 mobility scooters are another.
Class 3 mobility scooters do require registration, but not insurance or licencing.
https://www.eta.co.uk/mobility-scooters-and-the-law/

452

Car_54 said:

AdrianC said:

Some may be legal. Many are not.

Which electric scooters are legal?

Any mechanically propelled vehicle used on the road must be registered, licensed and insured.

Mobility scooters don't. 

ElephantBoy57

452 said:

Mobility scooters don't. 

I have a sore knee at the moment. I have could get an electric scooter as a temporary aid, to help me walk the dog.

Very unlikely to get stopped by the police.