One-off chance for e-scooter trial to be extended beyond Cambridge

One-off chance for e-scooter trial to be extended beyond Cambridge

Villagers and commuters in communities beyond the city of Cambridge may get their own chance to benefit from the successful e-scooter trial.

In today’s Transport and Infrastructure Committee it was agreed that the Combined Authority Board should consider extending the existing Cambridge city e-scooter trial by another two years, and to approve pushing the boundaries out beyond the current limits.

The Department for Transport is offering a one-off chance for trial areas to request changes to the geography and fleet size for their e-scooter trial if they get their requests in before 5^th April.

Application for changes must be made formally by 5 April and to avoid people missing out, areas being named in the request are subject to further discussion with district and parish councils and residents.

New areas to be listed in the application, if agreed by the Committee, may include: Northstowe, Horningsea, Babraham, and Cambridge University’s Laundry Farm and sports facility, and the town of Waterbeach, building connectivity between new housing and enabling commutes to and from the railway station.

Additional areas being named in the request, subject to further discussion with district and parish councils and residents are:

• Great Shelford

• Grantchester

• Teversham

• Marleigh Development

• Fulbourn

In November 2023, the DfT asked that the Cambridge e-scooter trial to be extended to 31 May 2026, enabling DfT planners to build their knowledge about use, safety, and environmental impacts, and to explore changing travel patterns since the covid pandemic, as shared-use e-scooters become more embedded in public life.

Combined Authority officers have considered the proposal with partners and stakeholders like Cambridgeshire County Council, Cambridge City, South Cambridgeshire District Council, and Cambridgeshire Police. All support the trial period being extended, with Cambridgeshire Police highlighting the need for tighter controls to regulate use of private e-scooters.

Mayor of Cambridgeshire & Peterborough, Dr Nik Johnson:

“Alongside reliable and affordable public transport, sustainable travel is a key priority for improving connectivity and enabling resilient communities.

“It’s important that e-scooter safety continues to improve but the fact that the trial may get another two years will please many people in Cambridge – and a possible extension to communities outside the city could be exciting news for many villagers.

“The Combined Authority’s Local Transport and Connectivity Plan commits to reducing road traffic by 15% and the shared-use e-scooters and e-bikes which have been a success story in Cambridge city, with user numbers still rising, offer a sustainable option that widens people’s travel choice.”