New e-scooter trial in Bristol and Bath

The West of England Combined Authority (WECA) to trial the use of e-scooters in the region. 

For the next 12 months, residents and visitors will be able to hire an e-scooter to travel around the two cities. 

It is hoped that the use of these carbon-neutral scooters will take the pressure off public transport and help people to travel in a safe and socially-distant manner. 

Initially, there will be 100 scooters available in Bristol and 50 in Bath with more set to be introduced over time. 

It will cost £1 to unlock the scooter and then it will cost an additional 20p per minute. There will also be a variety of subscription services available for students, key workers and those on low incomes. 

West of England Mayor Tim Bowles said: ‘With social distancing in place on public transport, our e-scooter trial is a chance for us to try a new, low carbon way to get our region moving, particularly up and down the big hills we have both Bristol and Bath.

‘Alongside Metrobus, our transformational MetroWest rail network and plans for a regional mass transit, we’re making it easier to get to the jobs and training opportunities that will secure our recovery.’

Fredrik Hjelm, co-founder and CEO of Voi Technology, said: ‘We are excited to be bringing Voi’s coral scooters to Bath and Bristol, two modern cities at the forefront of culture, science and technology.

‘As the pandemic continues, people are looking for alternative ways to go about their journeys and Voi’s scooters are a safe, low-carbon alternative to public transport and car journeys. We can’t wait to see how residents and visitors to these great cities enjoy using Voi e-scooters.’

Photo Credit – Pixabay