As the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill begins its journey through Parliament, it will bring about a shift in how micromobility services - initially shared bikes and e-bikes - will be managed across England. For local and regional authorities, this represents a long-awaited opportunity to take the reins on a fast-evolving part of the transport landscape. 

The Bill sets out a new regulatory framework for on-street micromobility, enabling greater local control of how shared, smaller vehicles are deployed and used. This marks a major step forward in aligning and joining up micromobility with broader transport and place-making plans. 

Why micromobility needs local leadership 

Micromobility - defined as small, lightweight vehicles typically travelling at speeds of 15mph or less - has become an increasingly important part of the urban transport mix. The term includes bikes and e-bikes as well as e-scooters which are being trialled in a number of areas across the country. Shared bike and e-bike schemes offer flexible, low-carbon alternatives to car travel, support active lifestyles, and help fill gaps in public transport networks.  

Yet until now, local transport authorities have had limited legal powers to manage these services, particularly when it comes to how public space is used by operators. The result has often been fragmented provision, inconsistent standards and missed opportunities to integrate micromobility into wider transport strategies. 

Our 2022 paper The future of e-scooters, which – in addition to e-scooters – looked at the wider principles of micromobility, offered valuable insights into how these services can be better governed. It argued that strategic transport authorities are best placed to regulate shared schemes, ensuring they reflect local needs and complement existing transport provision. We are delighted to see that the recommendations made in the report have been taken on in the new Bill. 

What the Bill changes 

The Bill introduces a new regulatory framework for shared micromobility services, initially covering bikes and e-bikes but with the flexibility to cover further vehicles in the future, including e-scooters. Under the proposed changes, Strategic Authorities (a new term to encompass the Greater London Authority as well as Mayoral and non-Mayoral Combined Authorities) or the highway authority in areas not covered by SAs, will become the licensing bodies for these services. 

Licences will not be required for services run by, or on behalf of, the licensing authority (i.e. publicly run services) but will be mandatory for any business providing bikes or e-bikes for public use, unless exempted in limited circumstances. Operating without a licence will be a criminal offence. These new provisions will give local transport authorities the power not just to permit or prohibit services, but to actively shape how they operate. 

This new approach aligns closely with our members’ calls, explored in the 2022 report, which asked for: 

• Local control: Strategic transport authorities should be empowered to regulate shared micromobility schemes in line with local priorities. 

• Local flexibility: Authorities should be able to set conditions on fleet size, parking, areas of operation, and service standards. 

• Data access: Operators should be required to share key data, such as trip patterns, vehicle locations, and safety incidents, to support planning and enforcement. 

Towards safer streets 

The Bill’s licensing provisions offer a chance to address some of the challenges that have emerged during the growth of shared micromobility. Without clear rules, cities have struggled with chaotic pavements, inconsistent service coverage and limited oversight of safety and maintenance standards. 

By giving local authorities the power to set operating conditions, the Bill will enable a more strategic approach. For example, authorities could: 

• Limit the number of operators to avoid market saturation 

• Specify where bikes and e-bikes can be parked, reducing street clutter 

• Require operators to meet environmental or accessibility standards 

• Recover costs for the use of public infrastructure 

These powers will help ensure that micromobility services support wider goals, such as enabling joined up journeys, reducing car dependency, improving air quality and making streets safer and more inclusive. 

Integration and innovation 

A key aspect of the Bill is its potential to support integration. With the right powers and data, local authorities can ensure that micromobility complements public transport rather than cause clutter and headaches for users and authorities. Done properly, micromobility can join up journeys, support first-and-last-mile journeys, and align with payment and ticketing systems. 

Our paper also highlighted the importance of flexibility. As new vehicle types and service models emerge, the regulatory framework must be adaptable. While the Bill currently focuses on bikes and e-bikes, it sets the framework for how other forms of micromobility will be governed in future. 

Conclusion 

The English Devolution and Empowerment Bill could unlock a new era of locally led micromobility. The new powers will enable the delivery of services that work for communities, integrate with wider transport networks, and support long-term goals for people and place. 

As the Bill moves forward, it will be essential to ensure that local leaders have not just the powers, but also the resources and support to use them effectively. If this is done correctly, it could be the start of a smarter, more sustainable future for micromobility in England. 

Monta Drozdova is Policy and Research Advisor at the Urban Transport Group