An electric scooter rental start-up co-founded by athlete Usain Bolt has made its UK debut despite UK law making the vehicles unusable.
Unlike rental-bikes, e-scooters are classified in the same category as mopeds in the eyes of UK law.
To ride a powered-scooter would first mean gaining and submitting the same documents that you must to ride a moped – otherwise they can only be used on private land.
The Department for Transport, in charge of defining which vehicles are road-legal, applies the same catch-all rule to powered electric scooters.
Despite this hurdle, the launch took place at Bolt’s Tracks and Records restaurant in London. Guests were able to try the rental scooters.
“I know it’s not legal here in London, but that’s what we’re working on,” Bolt said during the launch.
“We’re here to show you how we can help, and bring awareness, to let you know that this is a solution for all the traffic.”
The Bolt Mobility start-up has already launched in other European cities including Paris.