Devon & Cornwall Police News site

Police in Barnstaple are reminding local people about the rules around e-scooters in a bid to keep them safe.   

The town has recently started hosting a Department for Transport approved e-scooter trial, which is being delivered by a company called Zipp.

North Devon Council say the fleet of bright yellow scooters offer a greener alternative to getting around the town, reducing the ‘unnecessary car journeys that can contribute to congestion within town centres and built-up residential areas. The trial is scheduled to last until the end of May next year and there are currently 50 scooters in use in the Barnstaple area.

Devon & Cornwall Police officers worked with the local authority as a consultee to support safe delivery of the project but realise there is the potential for misuse of the e-scooters, which could lead to injury or antisocial behaviour.

In order to ride a Zipp e-scooter, a user must be a minimum of 16 years old and hold at least a provisional driving licence with a category Q entitlement. Helmets are strongly recommended as with bicycles, but not required by law. 

Inspector Andy Wills, who looks after Barnstaple sector, said: “There is a big difference between public place use of privately owned e-scooters which is illegal, and the lawful use of scheme e-scooters when they are ridden in compliance with the law. We understand that the majority of e-scooter users will be responsible and we don’t want to spoil anyone’s fun. The e-scooters can provide an environmental benefit to the town and be handy for getting around, however our role is to keep everyone safe and remind those who may break the law that ignorance is not a defence.   

“The key rules I would really like to emphasise about the use of Zipp e-scooters are the following:

You cannot:

• use the service under the influence of any alcohol or drugs
• ride on footpaths or pavements 
• ride the wrong way down roads
• have more than one person on a e-scooter at a time 
• rent a e-scooter on behalf of someone else

“The above are examples of rider behaviours which can result in criminal sanction. For the avoidance of doubt, being caught drink/drug driving on an e-scooter carries the same criminal penalty as driving a car whilst intoxicated. Please for all of our sakes, don’t do it.”

“We support their lawful usage but need to remind riders that anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated and are reaching out to educate everyone as to the consequences.”

The e-scooters, which are available 24 hours a day via an app, use technology which creates virtual geographical boundaries and this prevents riders from going into pedestrian areas, public open space, such as parks or on to major roads. The maximum speed limit of the scooters is 15.5mph.

Devon and Cornwall Police will deal with any offences our officers observe on a case-by-case basis. Members of the public wishing to report improper usage of Zipp e-scooters can do so directly through their website, and Zipp can provide sanctions or remove rider permission to use their services as appropriate. Each e-scooter is GPS tracked and is also identifiable by the unique registration number on the rear of the e-scooter behind the rear wheel. It is not essential to quote the registration number, but it helps if accurate date, time and location details can be given when reporting possible misuse of an e-scooter.

Reports can be made through the following link: Reporting (zippmobility.com)

Inspector Wills added: “Public place use of privately owned e-scooters can result in them being seized by police, and riders fined or prosecuted including the possibility of driving licence sanctions so it’s not worth the risk.”

Information about the Barnstaple trial can be found here: https://www.northdevon.gov.uk/leisure-and-lifestyle/barnstaple-e-scooter-trial/about-the-e-scooter-trial/

FAQs: https://www.northdevon.gov.uk/leisure-and-lifestyle/barnstaple-e-scooter-trial/e-scooter-faqs/

Police officers in Barnstaple are not currently using the e-scooters while on duty.