One in five e-scooter trips now replace car or taxi journeys, Government data reveals
- Perry Richardson
- May 7
- 2 min read
Updated: May 8
A growing share of e-scooter journeys in trial areas are replacing private car or taxi use, according to the latest figures from the Department for Transport.
In a response to a parliamentary question from Liberal Democrat MP Vikki Slade, the Government confirmed that 21% of e-scooter trips in December 2021 replaced journeys that would otherwise have been made by car or taxi. This figure has risen from 12% in March 2021, based on findings from the first national evaluation of the e-scooter trials published in December 2022.
The data also showed that 42% of e-scooter trips in the same period replaced walking trips, while 9% of journeys would not have been made at all without the availability of e-scooters.
While the trials are intended to explore the potential for e-scooters to shift travel behaviour and reduce congestion, the data shows a mixed outcome, with a significant proportion of trips replacing active travel rather than motor vehicle use.
The Department also confirmed that there were 1,194 casualties in collisions involving both private and rented e-scooters in the 12 months to June 2024. These figures are based on provisional data reported by police forces.
Department for Transport Minister, Simon Lightwood, said: “The first national evaluation of the e-scooter trials was published in December 2022. This found that e-scooters increasingly replaced private motor vehicle or taxi use over time (from 12% of journeys in March 2021 to 21% in December 2021). 42% of e-scooter trips replaced walking journeys in December 2021, and 9% of e-scooter journeys in the same period would otherwise not have been made.
“Statistics on road collisions are collected via data reported to the Department by police forces. Provisional estimates for the year ending June 2024 suggest that there were 1,194 casualties in collisions involving both private and rented e-scooters.”
