Last Wednesday 22 September marked World Car Free Day, a day when people in towns and cities can experience streets without any motor traffic and to celebrate, e-scooter training sessions were held in Hammersmith.
Hammersmith & Fulham Council organised several car-free events, including cycling sessions, walking tours with local guides, and e-scooter classes.
In May 2020, the Department for Transport (TfL) announced it would start trials of rental e-scooters, which would be coordinated locally.
TfL awarded a contract for £165,000 to three e-scooter companies: Tier, Emtransit and Lime, for the rental scheme.
In June of this year, e-scooters became available to rent in a small number of London boroughs.
This is the only way to legally ride an e-scooter on public roads.
Many people have expressed concerns about irresponsible behaviours, particularly riders using them on pavements alongside pedestrians.
In an attempt to improve road safety, the Hammersmith Business Improvement District (BID) is providing free e-scooter trainings delivered by Bikeworks, a cycling social enterprise.
Jim Blakemore, Bikeworks CEO said: “E-scooters are not going to go away, they are part of our new modal shift.”
He believes e-scooters are not unsafe, it is users that lack the right skills and training to operate them.
The free session explained how to use e-scooters and the rules of the road.
Participants were able to practice off the road with a qualified instructor in a safe environment to help them build confidence.
Bikeworks continues to provide free e-scooter trainings across London.
