Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
‘Cobble-proof’ e-scooters on way as city rental scheme expands
Firm announces six new ‘nests’ where controversial vehicles will be available
New “cobble-proof” electric scooters are set to be launched in Canterbury next week.
They will become available as part of the controversial rental scheme in the city.
It comes as the government has confirmed it is considering expanding the legal use of privately-owned e-scooters.
Bird, the firm behind Canterbury’s rental scheme, says its new model, called Bird Three, features “cobble-proof” pneumatic - or “self-healing” - tyres. It also has a 63cm (25in) long footboard, a “beginner mode” for softer acceleration, and longer lasting batteries which are also safer to use.
The California-based company has also announced six new “nests” from which the scooters can be rented. These are: Hales Drive, Tenterden Drive bus stop, Nethersole Close, Stephenson Road, Pine Tree Avenue/birchwood Walk car park and Vauxhall Avenue/sturry Road.
Although the e-scooter rental scheme in Canterbury is set to end in November, Kent County Council has confirmed the temporary traffic order for the trial will be made permanent - but has stressed the order can be cancelled at any time.
The order only applies to Bird e-scooters rented as part of the scheme, and they can only be used in the authorised area. They are allowed to use the same road space as bicycles and are not permitted to travel on the pavement.
While it remains illegal to use privately-owned e-scooters in public spaces, the government announced plans to expand their use as part of the Queen’s Speech. A government spokesman said: “We are considering how best to design future regulations and our Transport Bill will help us to take the steps we need to make e-scooters safer and support innovation.”
Bird’s general manager James Padden says this is fantastic news for the industry and the public as it will allow them to switch to greener transport options. The company’s research shows since the trial began, one in five eligible Canterbury residents have ridden one of the scooters, and this year demand has increased fourfold.
A Freedom of Information request carried out by the Local Democrary Reporting Service shows KCC has received 72 complaints since the scheme began
in November 2020. The complaints ranged from anti-social riding, inappropriate parking, pavement riding, and perceived danger.
Mr Padden said: “There will be teething issues with a new mode of transport.
“Education around use is really key, and that’s something we’ve worked really hard on in Kent.
“We work immediately if we do get a report of an e-scooter on the pavement and de-register that user, if indeed they were a Bird user.”
Kent’s Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott has previously called for all e scooters to be banned, and branded the government trial a “failure”.
Mr Padden said the trials which have been running across the country had been an “enormous success” and had produced data showing there has been a shift away from car use in those areas, which in turn contributed to better air quality.