Halfords has called on the government to bring forward e-scooter legislation “as soon as possible”, following Thames Valley police and crime commissioner (PCC) Matthew Barber recently writing to retailers in a bid to stop them selling e-scooters.
Riding privately-owned e-scooters on public roads is currently illegal in the UK, but it is legal to buy them and ride them on private land with the landowner’s permission. In 2022 the government announced that the vehicles will be made legal through the creation of a low-speed, zero-emission vehicle category, but this has been delayed several times.
Halfords has recommended that if and when e-scooters are legalised for private use on public roads, they should have a maximum speed of 15.5mph in line with e-bikes and the typical speed of a mechanical bike.
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In his letter to Argos, Currys, Decathlon, and Halfords, Barber said the retailers are aware of the legal status of e-scooters but continue to sell them, and called the disclaimers they use on their websites a, “bureaucratic nicety”.
Barber said he, “entirely accepts the sale of e-scooters is perfectly legal as they could be used on private land, and indeed in due course the legal position may well change.
“I also appreciate as a commercial entity you are entitled, and indeed obliged to deliver profit for the business. Nevertheless, I would ask if you consider the continued sales to be consistent with being a responsible corporate citizen.”
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Speaking to ebiketips, Halfords said it has been “widely recognised” for its commitment to clearly explaining the law at every stage of the e-scooter sales process, both in-store and online.
“A previous Transport Secretary cited Halfords as an example of a ‘responsible’ e-scooter retailer when appearing before a committee of MPs,” it added.
The retailer also outlined steps it takes to explain the law. These include prominent signage in stores, clear legal statements on price tickets and warranties, sales colleagues trained to explicitly outline e-scooters’ legal position, till rolls and cash registers with pop-up warnings, and headers on all e-scooter product detail pages.
In 2021, Halfords unveiled its first own-brand e-scooter, having previously said that the UK was ‘behind the curve’ when it comes to legalisation.
A Halfords spokesperson said: “Our research suggests that the UK is an outlier when it comes to e-scooter legislation.
“While there's a clear increase in the uptake of e-scooters across the globe, which most countries are supporting with new legislation, the UK appears to be behind the curve – with the devices currently considered illegal outside of private ownership.
“Should we, then, be introducing our own legislation to promote green transport, enable easier commuting, and reduce carbon emissions?”
Argos, Currys and Decathlon have also been contacted for comment.
