**tl;dr** The environmental benefits of electrical scooters outweigh any reasons against their implementation in cities. Kasey Cassel writes, ‘As the UK slowly unlocks, e-scooters rental companies look set to revolutionise the way we travel to and from the office’. The UK is finally following the lead of the US and Europe by beginning to legalise the use of e-scooters in cities which was previously prevented by the 1835 Highways Act. E-scooters should be embraced in cities because of crucial environmental reasons as they reduce the amount of CO2 and overall pollution in the air. The e-scooter rental brand ‘Lime’ stated in 2018 that e-scooter users had saved 244,939 kg of CO2 in just three months, which is equivalent to roughly 127,290 litres of fuel that wasn’t burned in car engines. Such statistics should not be taken lightly. E-scooters will not just save us money (around 69%) and time on the daily commute, but they will save the planet and the lives of future generations. Reasons against the argument for e-scooters should be weighed against such vital benefits. Fear of safety should be grounded by the fact that studies show that e-scooter users do not face much higher risk of road traffic incidents that cyclists do. Additionally, any such complications with implementation of e-scooters into cities can be solved or at least improved. For example, improving factors such as the quality of roads, bike theft and cycle lanes, could get more cities ready for this revolutionary form of transport. Cassells, Kasey (2020). ‘The E-Scootability Index’, *Uswitch*. Accessible from: https://www.uswitch.com/gas-electricity/uk-cities-ready-for-electric-scooters/ Laker, Laura (2019). ‘Welcome, watch or ban: how should cities deal with electric scooters?’, *The Guardian*. Accessible from: https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2019/jun/18/welcome-watch-or-ban-how-should-cities-deal-with-electric-scooters

**TL;DR - Electric scooters do have plenty of environmental benefits, but what prevents cities from implementing them are not only safety concerns but also insurance and investment concerns.** Electric scooters can be a useful method Co2 emissions reductions and can be an alternative form of transportation in the cities. However, many issues could arise aside from potential accidents such as battery issues, lack of parking regulation creating visual pollution, and companies cutting corners to reduce cost resulting in unreliable software and hardware [1]. One of the more concerning issues may come from insurance companies not sure how to treat those scooters and whether they are covered or not through car insurance. Scooter users may need to contact their insurance company to make sure they are covered properly to avoid any unpleasant consequences that could result from insufficient insurance [2]. Also from an investment perspective, buying a new E-Scooter model may be a risky choice since the depreciation of electric scooters is usually pretty high. Therefore, we can assume companies are engaging in some risky decisions by investing in electric scooters that may lose plenty of value in their first few years of use. Unless the city is willing to cover part of the maintenance expenses, riding scooters may get expensive or may not last long [2]. I like the idea, both my hometown and the last city I lived in had E-scooters and they seem to be managing it pretty well. [1] Are Electric Scooters Awesome or Terrible? A Look at the Pros and Cons. https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/318486 [2] Pros and Cons of Electric Scooters https://environmental-conscience.com/electric-scooters-pros-cons/