E Scooters

Hi Resident, 

⚠️ E-SCOOTERS: KNOW THE LAW.

There is still a lot of confusion about the law surrounding electric scooters, particularly among young people and parents.

🛴 The current law in the UK

It is legal to buy a private e-scooter, but it is currently illegal to ride a privately owned e-scooter in public.

This includes:

❌ Public roads

❌ Pavements

❌ Cycle lanes

❌ Public parks

❌ Other public spaces

A privately owned e-scooter can only legally be used on private land with the permission of the landowner.

If you use one illegally in public, you could face a fine, penalty points on your driving licence and the scooter could be seized by the police.

👉 Official GOV.UK guidance:

https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Felectric-scooter-rules&data=05%7C02%7CDipu.Miah%40gmp.police.uk%7Ca3677e08ff284bbf0f5408deff705085%7Cdcb8a542c40d46ab8f73e6023f45c7c5%7C0%7C0%7C639229055008478172%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=e7fcH3FTUX0sTHHvUD3tdMR1ei691H3TNjun11kTi0E%3D&reserved=0

📍 What about Greater Manchester?

This is particularly relevant to our local community.

The issue includes concerns about dangerous and anti-social use of these vehicles in local communities.

🚓 Please remember

If you see dangerous or anti-social use of e-scooters, particularly where pedestrians, children or other road users are being put at risk, it should be reported through the appropriate channels.

For an immediate danger or serious risk to life, call 999.

For non-emergency incidents, report them to the police or relevant local authority so that incidents can be recorded and intelligence can be built up.

One important distinction:

There are government-authorised rental e-scooter trials operating in certain parts of England. These are different from privately owned e-scooters and have specific rules.

Tameside is not currently an authorised e-scooter rental trial area.

👉 GOV.UK guidance on rental e-scooter trials:

https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fguidance%2Fe-scooter-trials-guidance-for-users&data=05%7C02%7CDipu.Miah%40gmp.police.uk%7Ca3677e08ff284bbf0f5408deff705085%7Cdcb8a542c40d46ab8f73e6023f45c7c5%7C0%7C0%7C639229055008513465%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=E1VhLuAsGRXeJ9%2BU0tWMkqvTtU1pibw5pmRSsEb1ZKU%3D&reserved=0

In simple terms:

✅ You can buy a private e-scooter.

❌ You cannot currently legally ride your privately owned e-scooter on public roads, pavements or public spaces in Oldham.

✅ You can use one on private land if you have the landowner’s permission.

Please share this information, particularly with parents and young people, so that everyone understands the current law and the potential consequences of using an e-scooter illegally.