Ireland’s Transport Minister, Eamon Ryan has stated that updates will be made to the e scooter legislation to legalize their use on Ireland’s roads in 2021. Draft legislation has started, which will see the form of e-mobility become part of the transport mix without local trials, which have become increasingly common throughout England.
The decision comes after the publication of a report by the Road Safety Authority, which was concluded in August 2020 that made recommendations for e scooter legislation to be adapted to allow for lawful use on public roads. We recently wrote a piece about whether escooters are legal in Ireland.
E scooters are currently illegal for use on public roads, as is the case in England if they are privately owned. As the legislation currently stands, they are regarded as motor vehicles and as such require a license, insurance, and tax before use. The updates to the legislation are aimed at drawing a line between motor vehicles and e scooters as is the case with e bikes in Ireland and now also Northern Ireland.
A public consultation on the EU’s Clean Vehicle Directive was published on the previous week, which seeks to understand the stance of the public on the future of the public and personal transport mix. Ireland is expected to push its transport make up towards either zero or low emissions vehicles in line with the directive, which is aimed at reducing both pollution and congestion as time goes on. There is a strong case for a change.
The public consultation was concluded on 31st December 2020. Eamon Ryan, Minister for Climate Action, Communication Networks and transport commenting on the launch of the consultation explained how green public procurement plays a critical role in addressing the country’s transport emissions along with the leading role played by the state in tackling the challenge of climate change.
Ryan also emphasizes the importance of working collectively to achieve climate objectives and highlighted the importance of states leading by example. He further stated that the consultation process will provide stakeholders along with the public the opportunity to give their feedback on the different proposed policies and transposition options.
