Headlining on BBC Breakfast but not being liked to comparable problems in Scotland by BBC Scotland, here’s why:

When you compare the number of casualties involving e-bikes.

In 2024, the UK, saw 1 390 casualties.¹

With 8% of the population, you might then expect around 111 casualties in Scotland.

There were 18, one sixth of the level.²

Why might this be?

I suppose weather will be a factor but the lack of legal government-backed trials in Scotland, even regulated, with speed limits, geofencing, insurance, and age checks have not increased exposure in high-traffic urban areas here, keeping casualties down here.³

Has the Scottish Government been criticised for a lack of rental trials and keeping casualties down? Indeed. The Scotsman, no surprise there:

So, the SNP Government can be accused by some, well all of the media, for not supporting this exciting new initiative and in so doing keeping us all safe. They’ll need to work on the wording for that one.

Sources:

1. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/reported-road-casualties-great-britain-e-scooter-factsheet-2024/reported-road-casualties-great-britain-e-scooter-factsheet-2024
2. https://www.gov.scot/publications/foi-202500485456/
3. https://zagdaily.com/micromobility/five-years-of-uk-e-scooter-trials-what-are-the-lessons-learned/