Nottingham's 'controversial' e-scooter trial extended for another year after 850,000 rides
Nottingham’s trial e-scooter rental scheme - dubbed controversial by some - has been extended until the end of November next year.
The move is in line with dozens of other trials taking place across the country that will also continue.
The Department for Transport has invited local areas to extend trials to give more time to gather data and evaluate schemes, introduce new and improved safety measures and improve public perception of e-scooters.
The trial will be extended in its current form, but with a series of key improvements being brought in following some concerns around safety. Some of the measures include:
The recruitment of a locally based Public Engagement Officer to provide increased e-scooter information for users and non-users through online content and in person events
Improved App, development of training resources and education through safety events
Stronger police enforcement, fines for poor parking and measures to tackle illegal pavement riding
Piloting docking stations at busy locations
Improved e-scooter number plates
Since their introduction in October 2020, the e-scooters have been ridden more than 850,000 times, with over 35,000 registered users and over 1.3 million miles travelled.
On average, the e-scooters are used for 3,000 journeys per day by more than 2,000 people, making Nottingham’s trial one of the most popular in the country.
But they've not been universally welcomed with claims they're being ridden dangerously on pavements and often abandoned in the street.
Today, the company behind the scheme held an event on the city's Victoria Embankment to show people how to ride them safely. They say the scooters are a valuable alternative to cars.
Early findings show the e-scooters are being used across the city, between residential areas and in areas not served as well by public transport. Many citizens are now using the e-scooters for their daily commute, to travel to bus stops, and as an alternative to the car.
Nottingham City Council, in partnership with Derby City Council, is one of 30 areas currently taking part in the Government-funded trials, which aim to test the potential of e-scooters to provide convenient, sustainable and affordable travel, reducing shorter car journeys and harmful emissions.
Councillor Rosemary Healy, Portfolio Holder for Transport at the City Council, said: “While the e-scooters have proved popular, as you would expect with any new and novel mode of transport there have been issues and challenges.
“We continue to work with Wind and partners, including the police, to look at how we can resolve these issues, our priority being to tackle dangerous pavement riding and the risk especially to people with visual impairments.
“A number of measures have already been implemented, including marked parking bays, increased fines, and on-street patrols.
“There is clearly potential for e-scooters to offer a greener, affordable and more convenient way to travel, and it’s worth extending the trial to provide more data and to design safety improvements so that if they were legalised in the long-term we have a controlled safe way of managing their use.
“The extension will allow ourselves and Wind to work on further improvements to tackle the issues.”