BASILDON’S electric scooter trial has been extended for another six months as the Government needs “more safety data”.

After initially launching in December 2020, the trial – also being replicated in Colchester and Chelmsford – was due to end this month.

The Department for Transport have extended the e-scooter trial until May to source additional safety data, Essex County Council (ECC) says.

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So far, a total of 1.4 million journeys have been made across the county on the licensed e-scooters.

Privately owned e-scooters remain illegal to use in a public place, which includes all roads and pavements

“These scooters have made a mess of our roads for too long,” Basildon councillor Kerry Smith said.

“Why are we leaving the elderly, blind and partially sighted feeling scared from walking their local roads as these scooters are  flying all over the pavements?”

ECC and TIER – the firm involved in the trial – say they are working with disability groups to address these concerns.

Initially run by Spin, the firm was taken over by TIER earlier this year, with all Spin vehicles transitioned to TIER’s in June 2022.

Essex County Council claims the trial is taking cars off the road, a statement Mr Smith is doubtful of.

“Most of the people I see riding these things are young adults, the kind of people who may not be able to afford a car right now, but are using these instead,” he said.

There are currently 22,000 riders signed up with TIER in Basildon. 

A spokesman for ECC said: “The County Council remains committed to the Tier e-scooter trial in Essex, which is trialling the use of a new form of low carbon transport in the county. Being part of the Tier e-scooter trial means we can help shape it.

“The trial has so-far proved extremely successful, with evidence the e-scooters are taking cars off the road, therefore helping to reduce pollution and congestion.

“As always, public safety is of the utmost concern during the trial. ECC and Tier are working closely with disability groups and district, city and borough council partners to further fine tune the operation model and will continue to do so going forward.”

The trials come at no cost to Essex County Council or the participating districts.