Royal Parks has criticised the launch of London’s e-scooter trial, warning scooters could ‘discourage visitors and undermine the ambiance of green spaces’.

From today, it is possible to rent an e-scooter in the capital. The scheme is organised by Transport for London, London Councils and a number of boroughs.

The trial is initially taking place in Canary Wharf, Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham, Kensington & Chelsea and Richmond, with Tower Hamlets acting as a ‘ride through’ area. 

However, Royal Parks has refused to take part in the trial and has warned people will not be able to ride through Richmond Park or Kensington Gardens.

“The parks and other open spaces we care for are principally places for quiet recreation and where pedestrians have priority,” a spokesperson told Motoring Research. 

“It is important that all our visitors feel safe in the parks and we believe that the speed and stealth of e-scooters will have a negative impact on people’s experience of the parks, particularly those with young families, with mobility challenges or with a visual or hearing impairment.

“We do not permit – and we have no plans to permit – the use of e-scooters in the parks.”

For roads only

E-scooter journeys will cost between £3.25 and £3.40 for a 15-minute ride and they are only allowed to be ridden on roads, not pavements, TfL said.

Three operators – Dott, Lime and Tier – are participating in the trial, and will additionally charge a £1 unlock fee.

TfL said the scooters use geofencing technology to ensure they don’t stray outside of the designated areas, while they are also equipped with GPS-controlled parking zones, meaning they will not be able to be dumped on a pavement.

In addition, TfL said as part of the trial, the scooters will be limited to 12.5mph – compared with the national 15.5mph scooter speed limit – adding that riders will need to undertake – and pass – an ‘e-safety course’ before renting for the first time.

“Safety remains our number one priority for this trial and we will work closely with the e-scooter operators, London Councils and the boroughs to ensure rigorous standards are consistently met,” said Helen Sharp, TfL’s e-scooter trial lead.

“We will also continue to work closely with all of our stakeholders, including TfL’s Independent Disability Advisory Group, to ensure that the trial meets the needs of everybody living in, working in and visiting the trial areas.

“This new trial will provide the data and insights we need to determine the longer-term role e-scooters could play in our strategy for a greener and healthier future for London.”

Private e-scooters remain illegal

The Metropolitan Police said it supported the trial but warned private e-scooter riders risk a £300 fixed penalty and six points added onto their driving licence if they are stopped.

“We’d like to remind everybody that private e-scooters used outside this trial remain illegal and will be dealt with by way of seizure,” said the force’s Chief Superintendent, Simon Ovens.

Tees Valley last year became the first place you can legally ride an e-scooter in the UK.

Last year, the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS), which advises MPs and members of the House of Lords in the UK parliament on air, rail and road safety issues, described e-scooters as having features which are ‘inherently unsafe’ in a report.

It warned the small wheels of e-scooters are “incapable of safely negotiating the ruts, potholes and uneven surfaces of many urban streets”, adding that it is “very difficult” for riders to see vehicles approaching from behind due to the lack of mirrors.

PACTS added the standing position of an e-scooter is “unstable” and said this puts riders in danger of being thrown forward more quickly and with more force than a cyclist

The advisory council claimed an e-scooter rider is eight times more likely to sustain a head injury than a cyclist.

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Just 14 percent of young motorists believe driving is the biggest threat to the safety of teenagers – despite road collisions being the single biggest cause of death among teens worldwide.

Research by the AA Charitable Trust said that while the perceived risk of driving has not changed much since 2008 (11 percent), the perception of drugs being the greatest threat to teenagers’ safety has risen from 31 percent to 39 percent since 2008.

It warned that 71 percent of fatal crashes involving young drivers occur on rural roads.

Young drivers (aged 17-to-24) are over-represented in rural crashes by 9 percent relative to all roads, with the over-representation highest for those aged 17 (27 percent) and decreasing with every subsequent year.

Young drivers are also shown to face a higher risk of death (2 percent) or serious injury (15.2 percent) when involved in a crash on a rural road compared to an urban road (0.6 percent and 11.3 percent respectively), the AA added.

“Road crashes are the single biggest killer of teenagers across the world, yet the general perception is that the inside of a car is a relatively safe place for them to be,” said Edmund King, the AA Charitable Trust’s director. 

“Understanding how, when and where young people are involved in crashes is vitally important to being able to improve their safety. Our latest research takes an in-depth look at rural roads and the particular and significant risks they pose to young drivers.”

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Three very rare Aston Martin DB5 Vantages are up for sale. The price for the complete collection? A cool £4 million.

Offered through Nicholas Mee & Co, the trio of DB5 Vantages – a coupe, convertible and one-off shooting brake estate – is said to be a one-in-a-lifetime sale.

Just 66 DB5 Vantages were built originally, with the production run consisting of 60 coupes, five convertibles and the single shooting brake.

Vantage specification cars had their engines enlarged from 3.7 litres to 4.0 litres. They also produced an extra 40hp above the standard model’s 282hp.

The shooting brake was reportedly built to accommodate former Aston Martin chairman David Brown’s gun dog and polo equipment, and was commissioned by dealer Cyril Williams of Wolverhampton. It features a hand-built aluminium body by London-based coachbuilders Harold Radford & Sons.

The three cars were collected over a 12-year period and have never been offered together before. Each has been restored and the company claims they are in ‘as new’ condition. 

They all come with a history file populated with original build details, BMIHT certificates, maintenance records, ownership documentation and restoration particulars, detailing the stories of each individual car from new.

“In the 40 or more years I have been dealing in Aston Martin cars, I have never been more excited than to offer this fabulous collection of iconic DB5 Vantages,” said Nicholas Mee. 

“Each one of them is extremely rare, they are all in a beautifully restored condition and we are delighted to bring to market, this once in a lifetime opportunity for a collector to invest in this unique DB5 Vantage collection.”

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The Highland Council in Scotland has relaxed licencing regulations to allow landowners to create motorhome stopover sites this summer.

The organisation is hopeful a network of sites – called Àirighs, the Gaelic word for ‘shieling’, which is a rough shelter traditionally used by shepherds while tending flocks on summer pastures – could be set up to offer basic services, such as waste disposal, and boost the number of resting areas in the region.

The demand for travelling in motorhomes has ‘intensified’ during the pandemic and created significant pressures for safe overnight parking in rural communities.  

The idea is based on continental Europe’s long-established Aires network. Many of the motorhome sites are provided free of charge, while others can be used for a small fee.

“Aires are used all over Europe and Àirighs could offer an opportunity to assist the economic recovery in Highlands,” said councillor Gordon Adam, the chair of the council’s tourism committee.

Alan Henderson, chair of the council’s communities committee, added: “Dedicated motorhome parking areas are provided in many European countries and these bring welcome tourists into well-known and undiscovered areas alike. Aires make suitable night stops all year round. The Highland ‘Àirigh’ symbolises the freedom of motorhoming and reflects the way people are choosing to holiday. 

“This approach is necessary in the Highlands to allow us to adapt to the increased popularity of this type of travel and to mitigate the problems experienced in many communities from overnight parking in unsuitable places and congestion caused in beauty spots.”

According to the council, the temporary relaxation in planning laws will remain in place until 31 December, or until the need to socially distance has been removed.

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May marked the seventh consecutive month of petrol price rises, new data reveals.

According to the RAC, the average cost of a litre of unleaded petrol went up by 2.24p during the month to 129.27p. The price of diesel fuel also increased by 1.95p to 131.59p. In the seven months since November 2020 – the last time fuel costs fell – the price of petrol has increased by 15.5p.

The RAC says petrol is also 22p a litre more expensive than in May 2020 – the largest 12-monthly increase in 11 years.

Filling a full 55-litre tank for a family car will cost £71.10 for petrol and £72.37 for diesel – around £8 more than before the rises began in November – the RAC added.

“After a weekend which saw millions of cars take to the roads to enjoy a sunny Bank Holiday and a half-term away from home, the price of filling up with petrol has unfortunately reached its highest point in just shy of two years,” said RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams. 

“After seven consecutive months of rising prices, drivers will be wondering if the increases are ever going to end. We’ve now witnessed the biggest petrol price rise in any 12-month period since May 2010, when unleaded rocketed from 99p a year earlier to 121p.”

RAC calls on retailers to cut prices

Williams added: “Looking at the wholesale price of both fuels, in normal circumstances unleaded definitely shouldn’t be continuing to rise with the numbers actually pointing to the potential for a 2p reduction. And diesel is currently 4p too expensive, which suggests retailers are using the saving in the wholesale price to help make up for lower fuel sales over the last year. 

“We urge retailers not to take advantage of drivers and fairly reflect what’s happening with wholesale prices on the country’s forecourts.”

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