E-scooters Trial of transport begins in two areas of county

ATRIAL which allows people to ride electric scooters on the roads of Gloucester and Cheltenham began on October 1.

The trial will see people able to find e-scooters left on the streets of the county’s two major urban areas, and then rent them by the minute, before leaving them at designated parking points.

Electric scooters are normally illegal to ride on the roads and pavements - they are classed as motor vehicles but aren’t licensed and can’t be insured.

In Bristol, police have confiscated almost 100 this year alone, and prosecuted people for the crime of driving with no insurance.

But the Government is embarking on a trial which allows people to use them legally - as long as they are rented from an official provider.

E-scooter firm Zwings has teamed up with Gloucestershire County Council to start a trial in Gloucester and Cheltenham, and the distinctive Zwings e-scooters began appearing on the streets of both places today.

But the county council did not appear to make any kind of announcement, apparently favouring a ‘soft launch’ of the trial.

A page on the council’s ‘think travel’ website reveals the trial is an official one, and explains that people wanting to have a go have to fulfill a number of criteria.

They must be over 16 and with a valid or provisional driving licence, which is registered on the Zwings app, that has to be downloaded.

Credit or debit card details have to be added to the app, and people hiring one for the first time have to watch and read a safety briefing.

The scooters cost £1 to unlock, and then you will be charged 15p or 20p a minute for every ride, depending on the loca

We have spoken to the police, who are supportive of a trial to see if we can find ways to travel around cities and urban areas that are sustainable.

tion. So a typical ride of 15 minutes across Cheltenham town centre would cost around £4.

Trials of the e-scooters are taking place across the country in large towns and cities. The council’s Think Travel website explained why Gloucester and Cheltenham had been chosen to be involved.

“Gloucester and Cheltenham have been chosen for the trial as they are Gloucestershire’s biggest town/city centres, with large numbers of residents, visitors and businesses who might benefit from having an alternative way to get around,” the website explained.

“Both areas also have high levels of congestion and poor air quality as a result, so trialing a clean, green method of making short journeys would improve pollution.

“We have spoken to the police, who are supportive of a trial to see if we can find new ways to travel around cities and urban areas that are sustainable.

“They understand the differences between rental Zwings scooters that are part of the scheme, and any other kind of scooter, which remains illegal to ride.

“Because you a driving licence to rent an e-scooter, any unlawful activity taking place with or on an e-scooter can result in points or a ban on your driving licence, as well as a fine,” it added.