A charitable organisation is pushing for fresh legislation to enable shared electric scooter programmes to launch in Wales.
Collaborative Mobility UK, a charity dedicated to shared transport, is calling on political parties to back new laws before the Senedd election takes place.
The organisation’s demand forms part of six policy proposals intended to broaden access to sustainable transport throughout Wales.
CoMoUK’s chief executive Richard Dilks stated that as Wales approaches the Senedd election, political parties have a valuable chance to prioritise sustainable transport in their platforms.
He noted that English communities have enjoyed the adaptability of shared e-scooters for several years, and it is now appropriate for this modern transport option to be tested in Wales as well.
Shared e-scooter initiatives represent the sole lawful method for riding electric scooters on public highways across the United Kingdom, with trial schemes running in various parts of England since 2020.
No similar programmes are currently operational in Wales, meaning new primary legislation would be necessary to implement them.
Cardiff, Swansea, and Newport have been highlighted as appropriate venues for possible pilot schemes.
Beyond e-scooter legislation, CoMoUK is also urging the next Welsh administration to create a specialist shared transport unit and to promote additional shared mobility options, such as bicycle hire schemes, vehicle clubs, and ridesharing services.
The organisation further suggests raising the concentration of car club vehicles to a minimum of one per 10,000 inhabitants, aligning it more closely with nations such as Italy and France.
Richard Dilks added that growing car clubs, developing a network of mobility centres, and integrating shared transport into new residential developments will assist in lowering emissions and easing traffic congestion.
He expressed that all parties should adopt these measures now, guaranteeing that Wales becomes a leader in sustainable transport rather than observing from the sidelines.