View of an e-scooter in London. (Photo: Bird website)

LONDON: Britain is to trial electric scooters as a possible solution to getting more people back to work without overburdening trains and buses as it eases its COVID-19 lockdown.

Like many other countries, Britain is keen to reopen for business, but wants to avoid people crowding back onto public transport as that could lead to a new spike in COVID-19 cases.

The trials will look at how e-scooters, which can reach speeds of 32kmh, could be safely used in urban areas and integrated into the wider transport system.

The vehicles have become an increasingly popular form of urban transport in many cities around the world.

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But some countries including Spain, France and Germany have clamped down, introducing speed limits and pavement bans, amid a rise in accidents, including a fatal crash in Singapore last year.

Britain currently only allows e-scooters to be used on private property.

But the government said e-scooter trials originally slated for next year would be brought forward to June because of the need to reduce pressure on public transport.