E-scooters draw mixed response from city users
GREAT FOR GETTING TO WORK, BUT THUMBS DOWN TO PATH PARKING
NOTTINGHAM’S new e-scooters have been met with mixed reviews by Post readers.
The new scheme has seen more than 200 electric scooters become available to hire in the city during a 12-month trial.
Nottingham City Council backed the introduction of the e-scooters by Wind Mobility - but has said it is looking at various ways to prevent inconsiderate or illegal use, including fining the offenders.
The Post’s website, Nottinghamshire Live, asked readers on Facebook if they had tried out the new addition to the city and what they thought about them.
James Edmiston said: “I’ve tried but the last five or six I’ve been to have been out of service.”
Chessca Bennett said: “They’re really fast! But you’re lucky if you manage to find one as they’re either always booked or hiding out in people’s gardens.”
Lauren Stott approved of the scheme, saying she had already used the scooters several times: “Really easy to use and gets me to work quickly.”
Siobhan Smith Mosley said: “My husband uses one almost every day to get to and from work. Cheaper than the bus”.
Stacey-marie Fryer: “They’re brilliant especially to get from a to b. They’re cheaper than the bus and less germs too - fantastic idea.”
Ross Wilson: “Walked for four hours around town today to have a go on one of these for a laugh.
“Visited five different scooters, every single one was ‘out of power’ yet on the app it said it has fully charged. Walked home.”
Long-term hire for key workers costs £30 a month plus a £50 deposit and onstreet rental by the minute will be available to all for 12p per minute.
But some have found issues with the way the scooters are parked.
Amy Statham said: “They are all parked ridiculously and on pavements.
“I’ve just driven home and nearly driven into someone in dark clothing going into the road to avoid two lying on the pavement! Total joke. Reported them online and they don’t get removed.”
But the scooters may not be available to everyone in the city, as some readers reported that the scooter did not work for them.
A spokesperson at Wind Mobility told Nottinghamshire Live that the maximum weight of the e-scooter has been capped at 100kg - just over 15 and a half stone.
They said this is to prevent two people from riding on scooters at the same time and “to ensure a safe performance of the scooter”.
But Jade Shannon said: “I saw two children on one scooter the other day coming from a secondary school from Beechdale Road down Aspley Lane.
“How are children on these. Someone will get hurt. I’m not against the idea but I can see a child getting seriously hurt. These kids looked no older than 13.”