E-scooter scheme’s expanding its reach
An e-scooter trial in Bath will expand to new areas of the city this week after proving popular among locals.
The trial area for the “hop-on hop-off” e-scooters was expanded from yesterday to feature new areas including Upper Weston and Lower Weston in Bath, as well Southmead, Brislington and Emersons Green around Bristol.
The expansion means e-scooters will now serve the Royal United Hospital in Bath and Southmead Hospital in Bristol.
Since the launch of the West of England e-scooter trial in October 2020 there have been over 225,000 rides taken and almost 615,000 miles travelled.
Councillor Dine Romero, leader of Bath and North East Somerset Council, said: “The e-scooters have proved to be a popular mode of travel in Bath, offering a more sustainable way to get around and I’m pleased to see the trial expanded to Weston.
“We’re working hard to create better connected, healthier communities by improving transport and the e-scooters provide a greener, cleaner option for residents.”
Mayor of the West of England Tim Bowles added: “The West of England has really embraced our e-scooter trial and I’m pleased that many more people will now have a chance to benefit from this low-carbon alternative to the car for short journeys to access essential work and services.
“I’ve been particularly keen to expand the trial to include hospitals in the region. This means that more NHS staff have access to this new green form of transport and can take advantage during lockdown of the Voi for Heroes scheme that gives free rides to NHS workers.
“E-scooters are part of our transport plans for the region alongside metrobus, Metrowest rail network and plans for regional mass transit, to make it easier to get to the jobs and training opportunities that will secure our recovery.”
While the lockdown is in place e-scooter operator Voi Technology is offering free rides to NHS workers, emergency service personnel and the armed forces, providing these key workers with a green and socially distanced alternative to commute to and from work.
Almost 1,600 riders have used the “Voi 4 Heroes” scheme making a total of more than 21,500 rides.
Marvin Rees, Mayor of Bristol, said: “E-scooters are a great way to travel and I’m delighted that they are proving so popular in the region and that they will now be available to more people in and around Bristol. It’s particularly important that we’re providing another low-emission alternative to short car journeys while public transport capacity is reduced for social distancing, and it’s great to see the trial extended to include the hospitals as well as providing free rides for many NHS and key workers.”
E-scooters are available to unlock for £0.99 and cost 14p per minute. There are also various discounts available and passes for students, key workers, and those on low-incomes.”
The West of England Combined Authority has also recently introduced long-term e-scooter rentals that can be stored at home and used by residents across the whole of Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol and South Gloucestershire giving unlimited access to cost-effective and socially distanced transport, within the entire WECA area.
The trial forms part of the West of England’s £28m plans for a Future Transport Zone in the region that will improve access to public transport for local communities.