Two more government-approved e-scooter rental trials are underway.
A 12-month rental trial will initially see 50 e-scooters deployed in York, with the potential to increase to up to 700 after six months. Rental will cost riders £1 to unlock the vehicle and 15p per minute travelled.
Riders can pick up the e-scooters at the University of York campus and ride them along a number of cycle and road routes. Discussions are also taking place with York Hospital, which could see the scheme operating from there in the coming weeks.
Rental firm TIER said City of York Council selected it as the sole operator because of its pioneering approach to safety, responsible operations and sustainability.
It added that it is the first climate-neutral micromobility provider and has introduced industry-leading swappable battery technology. Every scooter in York will have a swappable battery, which TIER employees on e-cargo bikes can change when they run low.
Tier said this dramatically reduces emissions and congestion on roads, compared to the common industry practice of using vans to collect the e-scooters and take them to be charged in a warehouse – a practice that was highlighted in the Transport Select Committee’s recent report.
TIER e-scooters have an integrated helmet, 'the largest front wheel in the market', a wider foot plate, dual suspension, a double kickstand and dual drum brakes for stable riding on uneven surfaces.
Andy D’Agorne, the council’s executive member for transport, said: ‘This will provide a fantastic opportunity to explore how e-scooters might add to the mix of sustainable transport options, whilst helping to improve air quality and expand our electrical vehicle charging offer.
‘The trial will also form part of the city’s COVID-19 response in terms of, for example, providing sustainable alternatives to support capacity on public transport across the city.’
Slough’s e-scooter rental trial is also underway, with 250 vehicles being deployed across the town. The 12-month trial is operated by Neuron Mobility in partnership with Slough Borough Council.
Riders must be over 18 and hold a full or provisional driving licence. Single trips will cost £1 to unlock the e-scooter and 18 pence per minute after that.
More frequent users have the option to purchase Neuron Passes, a subscription service, available in three-day (£15), weekly (£22), or monthly (£36) options. The packages will allow users to ride as many times as they want for up to 90 minutes per day for a fixed price with no additional unlocking fees.
The e-scooters are GPS-enabled and Neuron and the council are using geofencing technology to control the riding area and create dedicated parking zones and no-go zones.
There will be over 60 parking stations, 25 of which will be in the town centre.
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