“New normal”

Such apparent commitment to sustainability no doubt appeals to governments in the coronavirus recovery as they seek to support transport needs that adhere to social distancing while avoiding increases in polluting car use.

Although many shared e-scooters were taken out of service during lockdowns, they are slowly returning to cities, with ramped-up cleaning measures. Meanwhile, retailers have reported sales of private e-scooters increasing in places including Finland, Ireland and the UK, despite their use on public streets still being illegal in the latter two countries. Things are set to change quite extensively in the UK, though. Shared e-scooter trials were planned for 2021 in four select areas, but in response to the newly restricted capacity of public transport, were brought forward to this summer and offered nationally.

But the UK is not alone in embracing e-scooters as part of post-Covid transport strategies. In Australia, Brisbane recently decided to extend its e-scooter trial by a year, expanding provision into the suburbs as part of efforts to increase active transport in the coronavirus recovery. In Colombia, Bogotá changed its’ e-scooter regulations to allow more providers to offer their services post-lockdown, with no payment to the city. In Argentina, Buenos Aires is actively encouraging short trips to be taken by bicycles and scooters, which it says “play a fundamental role in the mobility of residents in this new scenario”.

Rome welcomed its first shared e-scooters in May. “Rome is starting again under the banner of sustainable mobility,” said mayor Virginia Raggi of the new scheme. “During these unprecedented times, our habits have changed, and as an administration, we are promoting new mobility choices.”

The Italian government’s Covid-19 Task Force has partnered with e-scooter company Helbiz to help support socially distanced mobility across the country. “It is necessary to change the paradigm and make a Copernican revolution in the mobility industry,” says Filomena Maggino, head of the task force’s mobility delegation. “We are prioritising the wellbeing of our citizens and choosing the options that allow everyone to move without compromising sustainability. Micro-mobility solutions embody the needs for fair and sustainable mobility.” The government is also offering city residents subsidies for buying an e-scooter.