MP wants retailers to warn buyers as private e-scooters are used across the city
Retailers in Milton Keynes have been asked to tighten sales practices around private e-scooters after concerns that purchases at local retail parks are translating into illegal use on streets, pavements and the city’s redways. The appeal comes from Chris Curtis, MP for Milton Keynes North, who says many customers are unaware that private e-scooters may only be used on private land with the landowner’s consent.
Mr Curtis has written to leading high-street and hardware outlets urging them to make the legal restrictions clear to prospective buyers and to do more to prevent misuse. His move follows a “Scooter Summit” he hosted last month, which brought together e-scooter operators, parish and town councils, community groups, Milton Keynes City Council and Thames Valley Police to discuss the local micromobility trial.
“Whilst small disclaimers are provided by some retailers, these are often difficult to see and has led to a significant number of private e-scooters being used in public spaces in Milton Keynes, with little done by retailers to prevent their misuse.”
He told WE NEWS he feared that the growth in unauthorised private e-scooter use was undermining public confidence in the legal hire scheme running in Milton Keynes. The trial hire scooters carry safety measures such as speed controls and ID checks, whereas Mr Curtis warned that privately bought machines can travel at much higher speeds and are often uninsured.
- Legal position: private e-scooters may only be used on private land with permission from the landowner.
- Illegal use: roads, pavements and Milton Keynes redways are not lawful locations for private e-scooters.
- Enforcement: Mr Curtis says police will seize private e-scooters when used illegally.
He pointed to a local pattern: purchase at retail parks — including those in Rooksley — followed by use in residential areas such as Bradwell and elsewhere across Milton Keynes North. The MP argues that retailers have a responsibility to ensure purchasers are properly informed so the devices are not later ridden on public surfaces.
The concerns are practical as well as legal. Mr Curtis highlighted the differing standards between hireable and private e-scooters. The trial vehicles are limited in performance and tied to operator checks; privately bought scooters, he warned, may lack those safeguards and add risks for pedestrians and other road users.
| Aspect | Hireable e-scooters (trial) | Private e-scooters |
|---|---|---|
| Where permitted to ride | Permitted as per trial rules (with restrictions) | Only on private land with owner consent |
| Safety measures | Speed controls, ID checks | Often higher speeds, usually uninsured |
| Enforcement | Operated within trial framework | Seizable if used illegally |
Milton Keynes residents and local councillors have debated e-scooter use since the start of the trial, with supporters pointing to reduced car journeys and opponents raising safety and nuisance issues. The MP’s letter to retailers is the latest attempt to shape how the trial is perceived and to reduce the hazards he says are caused by privately owned machines being ridden in public spaces.
For the public, the message from the MP is straightforward: buying a private e-scooter does not grant the right to ride it on the city’s streets, pavements or redways. Where private e-scooters are observed being used unlawfully, Mr Curtis said they would be liable to seizure by police — a measure intended to deter unsafe behaviour and to protect the reputation of the legal hire scheme.
Retailers approached for comment were not quoted in the material provided to WE NEWS. Thames Valley Police and Milton Keynes City Council continue to be among the local bodies engaged in the trial and discussions about the best way to manage micromobility in the city.
As the winter months approach and usage patterns change, the balance between encouraging sustainable travel and keeping pedestrians and other road users safe remains a topic of active debate in Milton Keynes.
