E-scooter public hire trial

Overview

About the trial

We are participating in Transport for London's (TfL) multi-borough, 12-month trial e-scooter public hire scheme, which began on 7 June 2021.

This scheme is made possible by legislation passed last year enabling local authorities to host public hire schemes subject to Department for Transport approval. The trial aims to test the viability and safety of e-scooters as part of a long-term solution to air quality and congestion issues across London.

Operators

Operators Dott, Lime and TIER have been appointed to take part in the trial following the selection process thanks to their ability to meet strict safety requirements and high operating standards.

How to hire an e-scooter

You can begin and end your journey at the parking locations listed below. You will need to download the operator's mobile app to hire an e-scooter. The rental fees for the e-scooters are:

• Dott - £1 activation charge then 15p per minute
• Lime - £1 activation charge then 16p per minute
• TIER - £1 activation charge then 15p per minute

Details of any discounts or promotions are available on each operator's app.

E-scooter rules

Only e-scooters which are authorised as part of this public hire trial are legal for use on roads or other public spaces. Privately owned e-scooters are currently illegal and users can be subject to fines of up to £300 and up to six penalty points on their driving licence.

E-scooters rented from the scheme are permitted to ride on Richmond's public roads and cycle infrastructure - not on the borough's pavements.

Users must be 18 or over and have a full or provisional driving licence.

The police will enforce against illegal use of e-scooters and the operating companies will take remedial action against users who do not comply with the law or the rules of the trial.

Safety

The safety standards for e-scooters include:

• A maximum speed of 12.5mph
• User education and awareness
• Lights at the front and the rear of the vehicles that are always on throughout any rental
• Geofence technology to support parking and riding only in authorised locations

Monitoring the trial

We have worked with Transport for London, London Councils and other London boroughs to develop the trial. You can find out more about the trial on the TfL website, which includes a feedback page. 

Richmond Council and TfL will closely monitor the effects of the trial, which has the potential to add to the transport options within the borough, subject to understanding its impact on other road users and safety. We reserve the right to withdraw from the trial and cease operations for any reason if the trial proves unsustainable.

How to report issues with service or user behaviour

The operators are committed to providing an excellent service both for users and for non-users. If you encounter any difficulties with the service, or in the way that e-scooters are being used by others, please report it to the relevant operating company.  Each e-scooter being used in the trial has a clearly visible identifying number and is tracked by its operator. Operators can issue warnings or ban customers if they have evidence that they have used an e-scooter unsafely or in breach of their conditions of use. If you witness any criminal behaviour on an e-scooter, please also report it to the police.

Have your say

Residents are invited to share feedback on the trial with TfL.

You can use the TfL feedback page to provide comments on parking (including suggesting additional parking locations), user behaviour and rider experience.

For general questions about the scheme in Richmond upon Thames, contact transportation@richmond.gov.uk

For specific issues relating to e-scooters, you can contact the relevant operator:

TIER

Telephone: 0151 317 4276
Email: support@tier.app
Twitter: @tierscooters

Dott

Telephone: 0800 048 8993
Email: support@ridedott.com
Twitter: @Dott_UK

Lime

Telephone: 0800 808 5223
Email: support@li.me

Parking locations

The parking locations are listed below.

We have deliberately designated parking locations on the carriageway.

Subject to demand and performance, it is likely that the scheme will expand and further parking locations added. E-scooters can only be parked in the designated locations, so plan your journey and find the parking place closest to your destination.

Please note that initially it will not be possible to ride an e-scooter beyond the borough boundary as neighbouring boroughs are not currently participating in the trial.

E-scooter parking locations