Here at Walk Ride GM, we’re big fans of e-scooters and their potentially game-changing benefits for our region’s towns and cities.
For the last five years, Lime have been operating their e-scooter hire scheme in Salford. Comprehensive studies show us evidence that this has been a great success.
Results from the University of Salford’s surveys, reference groups and interviews indicate that shared e-scooters are enabling access to work, education, shopping, and social activities. Importantly, they are also providing an alternative sustainable transport option to using a private car.
Whether you’re in Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Trafford, Tameside or Wigan, you can act now to bring e-scooters to your area.
What is the opportunity?
In July 2025 the Government invited councils to apply for a new round of e-scooter trials, to help fill evidence gaps and gather new learning. Authorities must request a new e-scooter trial by 21 October to be part of the next round of trials. A second application window will open in early 2026. If your council doesn’t apply for a trial, e-scooters will remain illegal to use there until at least 2028.
In order to qualify, a council must propose a trial which tests New Features and/or Unique Local Characteristics.
For New Features, the trial location must include opportunity for information on the impact of different approaches, e.g. speed limits or helmet provision.
For Unique Local Characteristics, the trial must add to the human or physical geography evidence base, e.g. demographics, topography, or the transport system.
How can I influence this?
We need you to convince your local councillors to ask for a trial. Local councillors across the entire region need to hear their residents being positive about e-scooters and proactively asking for them in their area.
Most councillors run regular “surgeries” where you can drop in and have a friendly in-person conversation. This is our #1 ask! Building a polite and positive rapport with your local councillor is the single most powerful thing you can do for Walk Ride GM (and it’s also dead handy for other things, like getting your street cleaned up or securing action on anti-social behaviour).
If you really don’t have time to attend a councillor surgery, you can send them an e-mail – that’s also valuable, but it doesn’t have as powerful an effect as a friendly face asking in person!
Remember to keep it polite and positive, even if the councillor isn’t on board with active travel. Use words like “fun”, “green” and “healthy”. You want your councillor to see an engaged resident they can win over, not a miserable complainant.
Here’s some talking points to read beforehand and keep in mind:
- The Lime scooters hire scheme has been a success for Salford; there is an October 2022 report on this.
- We all want less traffic clogging up the roads, and e-scooters help us to achieve that goal – TfGM said about the Salford trial results: “We therefore welcome the evidence that half of respondents who have used a Lime e-scooter said they had used it to replace a journey that would otherwise have been taken in a private vehicle.”
- The trial in [your borough] would be a great opportunity to meet this key policy target.
- It would help to add to the growing body of evidence in favour of prioritising sensible legislation for e-scooters as a means for people to get around.
- A regulated geo fenced, speed limited trial scheme helps councils set an example of good behaviour and to take control of the issue before it becomes more unmanageable. It’s a chance for the council to set behavioural standards – what does safe, responsible e-scooter use and parking look like?
- During the Salford and Rochdale trial, there were no Road Traffic Incidents (RTI) involving e-scooters from the hire schemes resulting in serious injuries or fatalities recorded and only one RTI which resulted in a slight injury
- There are huge potential benefits of a legal scheme (see this report from CoMoUK on shared micromobility)
- A huge number of people can use e-scooters, whether it’s commuters, people travelling for education, or people visiting shops and other local services, or to socialise.
- Without a legal alternative, many people will feel that illegal private e-scooters are their only option, perhaps not even realising they are breaking the law.
- If all councils don’t apply, there will be an issue for anyone using a hire scooter to travel across boroughs, leading to the potential for scooters to be abandoned at borough borders.
- Therefore, please urge your officers to prepare an application before the October 21st deadline, to introduce a trial of e-scooter hire in [your borough] (or during the final window for application to be announced early 2026). (Here is the link to request the application form)
When you’ve spoken to your councillor, tell us about it! Also we suggest you copy in the relevant councillor(s) who represents your council on the GM Bee Network Committee:
- Cllr Alan Quinn – Bury (alan.quinn@bury.gov.uk)
- Cllr Tracey Rawlins – Manchester (cllr.tracey.rawlins@manchester.gov.uk)
- Cllr Joshua Charters – Oldham (josh.charters@oldham.gov.uk)
- Cllr Max Woodvine – Oldham (max.woodvine@oldham.gov.uk)
- Cllr Phil Burke – Rochdale (philip.burke@rochdale.gov.uk)
- Cllr Grace Baynham – Stockport (cllr.grace.baynham@stockport.gov.uk)
- Cllr Jon Byrne – Stockport (cllr.jon.byrne@stockport.gov.uk)
- Cllr Peter Crossen – Stockport (cllr.peter.crossen@stockport.gov.uk)
- Cllr Jacqueline Owen – Tameside (jacqueline.owen@tameside.gov.uk)
- Cllr Julian Newgrosh- Trafford (julian.newgrosh@trafford.gov.uk)
- Cllr Aidan Williams – Trafford (aidan.williams@trafford.gov.uk
- Cllr John Vickers – Wigan (john.vickers@wigan.gov.uk)
Whether you post on Discord, e-mail hello@walkridegm.org.uk, or chat to us in person at our September social event – it’s super helpful for us to know which councillors have been contacted, and to hear your insights on how they responded.