Stagecoach bans e-scooters on Cambridgeshire services amid new fire safety rules
The company says the ban is due to affect around three million passengers
A bus operator believes banning e-scooters from its Cambridgeshire services will remove the "devastating effect" they have.
Stagecoach East took the decision to ban electric scooters from all its buses as the batteries inside them are what it said "a known fire risk".
The move will affect 70 services that Stagecoach operates in Cambridgeshire and the east, which the company said serves roughly three million passengers a year.
Mobility scooters will not be affected by the ban.
Ross Barton is operations director at Stagecoach East:
"I think it's become a particular issue locally for us as over the summer, there were fatalities in Cambridge and that brought it to the forefront for us," he said.
"It's a pre-emptive measure; we haven't had any fires nor do we expect any, so I think it undermines our commitment that the bus is a safe mode of transport.
"The comfort and safety of our passengers, we have to be very clear that is our priority."
When is the ban in place?
Stagecoach East confirmed that the ban would be in effect from Monday, September 25.
It means anyone that wishes to take an e-scooter on board any of its services nationwide will not be allowed to do so.
In a tweet, the operator said: "Electric scooters must not be brought on board any Stagecoach service, even if the battery pack has been removed.
"This safety step is due to the batteries on e-scooters being a known fire risk and multiple fires occurring on UK public transport."
Where can you use e-scooters?
It is illegal to use a privately owned e-scooter on public roads, cycle lanes and pavements, but can be used on private land with the landowner's permission.
They can only be used on the road if part of a government trial - they can't be used on the road outside of these trials because they do not have number plates, visible rear lights or the ability to signal.
Some of the punishments for riding an e-scooter illegally include a fine and penalty points on your licence.
Cambridge is one location in the UK that has been running trials of vehicles from e-scooter hire company Voi since 2020 and these are due to continue until next May.
"I don't see the ban as a barrier"
Last week, Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service told us it's seen a rising trend in the number of e-scooter and e-bike fires in the county.
Gareth Boyd, station commander in community safety and prevention at the service, said crews dealt with 5 fires across 2020 and 2021, but around "6 or 7 e-bike and e-scooter fires" in the last 12 months.
“They’re (e-scooters) not subject to consistent legislative requirements, or safety standard like an annual MOT," Mr Barton said.
"If the batteries become damaged, they can have a devastating effect particularly in a small area like we’d have on a bus.
"I don't see a ban as a barrier; congestion and car usage is probably an area I think the bus industry is targeting more rather than e-scooters because it's still a relatively small market."