The increasing presence of e-scooters and e-bikes on urban roads and pavements has raised serious safety concerns, with critics arguing that current regulations and enforcement are inadequate. Despite official statements that privately owned e-scooters are illegal on public roads, their widespread use and the government's licensing of hired scooter schemes in numerous English cities suggest a weakening of enforcement.
Reports from trauma centers indicate a rise in injuries among young people related to e-scooters. Three trauma centers in Liverpool, Manchester, and Sheffield reported treating 477 under-16s for e-scooter injuries between 2019 and 2024. The number of such cases per year increased from fewer than ten in 2019 to nearly 150 in 2024. A detective constable from Greater Manchester Police warned that e-scooters are "not harmless toys and could lead to horrific consequences when used by inexperienced riders."
The government has licensed trials for hired e-scooters in over 50 English cities since 2020, initially under the guise of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, these trials have shown no signs of ending, nor have clear criteria for deeming them a failure been established. This has led to a situation where e-scooters are ubiquitous, often ridden recklessly through red lights and posing a hazard to pedestrians and cyclists. The presence of these devices has been described as creating chaos for drivers and diminishing the quality of urban life, with many left discarded on pavements.
While a survey of 29 police forces found that 5,544 illegal e-scooters were seized between 2023 and late 2025, this number is considered by some to be small relative to the tens of thousands believed to be operating without intervention. The author of the report recounted being struck by an e-scooter in Oxford, noting the rider's apparent lack of concern. Enforcement of rules for hired scooters, such as the single-rider limit, appears to be infrequent, and data on fines or stops for such offenses are difficult to obtain.
Concerns also extend to the speed capabilities of these vehicles. Speed limiters, purportedly keeping devices below 16 mph, are widely believed to be ineffective, with many e-scooters and e-bikes capable of reaching speeds of 40 mph or more. Their lack of number plates and ability to travel on pavements make them attractive for criminal activity, such as muggings and phone thefts, as they are difficult to trace.
The introduction of these electric vehicles has been criticized for lacking sufficient parliamentary debate and public scrutiny. E-bikes were permitted through an EU regulation, and e-scooters were semi-legalized via a 'negative process' that allowed new rules to pass with little opposition. A 2020 report from the Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee questioned the compatibility of trial objectives, the evidence base for expanding schemes, and highlighted that similar initiatives in other countries had been divisive.
Critics express frustration over the perceived lack of government attention to these issues, suggesting that significant action may only occur after a major accident. The author argues that the arrival of powerful, affordable electric vehicles represents a major technological shift comparable to the invention of the motor car, yet it has stimulated minimal public discourse or regulatory consideration. This situation is contrasted with the public attention given to potential threats like Artificial Intelligence, while the immediate, tangible risks posed by e-scooters and e-bikes are, in the author's view, largely overlooked.