Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Calls for e-scooter stands as vehicles dumped on street
Two-wheelers scattered across busy route
The dumping of electric scooters has been described as a “blight on our city” after vehicles were pictured strewn across a much-used pavement.
Hundreds of e-scooters have been available to rent in the city since 2020, as part of a Department for Transport pilot by Kent County Council and headed up by rental firm Bird.
But photos showing the vehicles obstructing the pavement in Station Road West - with some wedged into the wall of the road’s multi-storey car park have reignited calls for secure docking spaces to be introduced.
Sally-ann Ward, who captured the photos, said: “These really are a blight on our city.
“Why do they not have a specific scooter stand that they need to go back into?”
Currently, users must leave the vehicles in designated hatched parking spaces.
But this is not the first time issues have been reported.
In September, similar images of e-scooters dumped in Station Road West prompted calls for better security.
The new photos have sparked more than 100 comments on social media.
City councillor Pip Hazelton responded: “Bird have said that it is not economic to install secure stands for the escooters all the time this is a trial.
“If they do become a permanent feature then I will be pushing really hard for racks, stands, and whatever is needed to put an end to abandoned and vandalised escooters across the city.”
Chris Chaucer said: “I think there is a place for [the e-scooters], and they probably should stay.
“But there needs to be improve
ments, as it can’t go on the way it is. I regularly see the scooters by Canterbury West like they are in the photo.”
John Rowland added: “They have potential to be very useful in the city, getting people around without the need for pollution emitting cars etc. but need to be better organised and have secure racks to be left in.”
Many others have responded by praising the trial, which has been extended by five months until the end of March.
Edd Withers, who runs the Canterbury Residents Group on Facebook, says they are “an excellent idea and great for our city” when used correctly.
“Sadly, non-scooter users come along afterwards and move them and vandalise them,” he added.
Courtney Richards said: “I live by Canterbury East and need to get to Canterbury West for my train every day. This turns a 25-minute walk to the train and 25-minute walk back into less than 20 minutes total with
a scooter.”
Bird says it has measures to encourage proper parking, including continuing to charge users until the scooters are left correctly in geo-fenced ‘nests’.
UK operations director Charlotte Bailey said: “In the instance of our vehicles being vandalised or moved deliberately to cause obstruction, like in this instance, our fleet managers are alerted and move the vehicles ASAP.
“In addition we run patrols across the area to correct obstructive vehicles and run a strike system where repeat offenders are banned from the service.
“We continue to work closely with the council and police to educate on responsible scooter use, and have conducted several local safety campaigns to emphasise the rules.”
The company says it is not considering physical docking stations due to the trial nature of the scheme.