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www.bradleystokejournal.co.uk
t: 01454 300 400
March/April 2021
News
Roll-out of e-scooter trial in the Stokes sparks confusion and controversy
R
esidents of the Stokes are now able to hire ‘hop-on, hop-off’ e-scooters after a trial scheme established in Bristol city centre in October 2020 was expanded to cover Bradley Stoke, Stoke Gifford and Filton. Clusters of coral-coloured e-scooters began appearing at MetroBus stops and other key locations in the area on Friday 12th February 2021. The first few weeks of the scheme have seen significant numbers of people hiring the scooters but also a steady flow of (mostly) negative comments on social media. There have also been critical comments from local councillors peeved at not being consulted prior to the start of the trial. Concerns raised have related to under-age riding, anti-social and dangerous riding, inconsiderate parking, confusion over where the e-scooters are permitted to be ridden and the clarity of hire charges and penalties. As previously reported, the scheme forms part of a government initiative to support
a ‘green’ restart of local travel and help mitigate reduced public transport capacity during the coronavirus emergency. It is being led locally by the West of England Combined Authority (Weca) which has signed a deal with e-scooter provider Voi Technology Ltd, Europe’s fastest growing micro-mobility operator. The trial’s expansion has seen the number of scooters available increased to 400 in Bristol and 200 in South Gloucestershire. The trial e-scooters can be rented by anyone over 18 with a full or provisional driving licence. Within the designated geographical area the vehicles may be used on roads, cycle lanes and designated cycle paths (including shared-use paths) but not on regular pavements. In line with the Department for Transport’s guidance, Weca recommends wearing a cycle helmet when using an e-scooter, but their use is not mandatory. Hiring a scooter on a casual basis costs 99p to unlock the vehicle and thereafter 14p per minute. There are also a variety of
subscriptions available, including a day pass for £4.99 and a monthly pass for £34.99. With these passes, the first 45 minutes of every ride are free (anything beyond this is charged). Third-party insurance cover is included within the hire charge. To hire an e-scooter, users need to first download the ‘VOI Scooters: Get Magic Wheels’ app onto their smartphone, register with the service and add a payment method (credit/debit card or Paypal). They can then locate an available e-scooter using the map function within the app. Once at the e-scooter’s location, the hirer uses the smartphone app to scan the QR code on the vehicle’s handlebars or footpad to ‘unlock’ it and commence the hire period. The Voi e-scooters use geofencing technology to limit access to some places, such as parks, nature reserves and play areas. Geofencing uses GPS technology to restrict use or limit the speed of e-scooters within geographically defined zones. The maximum speed achieved
by the scooters is between 10 and 15.5mph (the legal maximum). At the end of a ride, the e-scooter must be ‘parked’ in one of the approved ‘parking spots’ shown on the map within the smartphone app. Although these spots are described in the app as a “good” place to park (suggesting that other places might also be acceptable), within the Weca trial area parking at these spots is mandatory and users are unable to end their hire at other locations. Riders are required to take a photo of their scooter as part of the hire-termination process and are warned that “improper” parking may result in a £25 fine. Notwithstanding these rules and procedures, social media is awash with complaints about “abandoned”, “dumped” and inconsiderately parked e-scooters. Investigation by the Journal suggests that e-scooters abandoned far away from the mandatory parking spots are likely to be a consequence of the vehicle running out of power (i.e. low battery level). Safety measures to protect riders against Covid-19 include equipping all handlebars with anti-bacterial tape and ensuring the vehicles are regularly disinfected. Personal e-scooters, outside of the trial, remain illegal except when used on private land with the permission of the landowner.
How to report issues Voi’s support channels for the general public to report incorrectly parked scooters or for any other questions or concerns are: e: support@voiapp.io t: 0800 376 8179 w: voiscooters.com/report/uk General feedback about the Weca trial should be directed to: escootertrial@ westofengland-ca.gov.uk
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