There are those who enjoy travelling around e-Scooters in Birmingham who will be in for a shock, as the current contract between the city council and provider Voi comes to an end – with no replacement in sight.
Get used to this sight…
The e-scooter trial will be paused on Wednesday, 1 March following the end of the current contract with Voi.
The trial organised by Transport for West Midlands and Birmingham City Council launched a new tender process – which is still in progress. The upshot is there will inevitably be a break in the provision of a public rental e-scooter scheme.
As such Voi is in contact with its users who have extended passes to arrange refunds, as the e-scooters are wound down and removed from the city.
There were an average of 30,000 rides a week taken, using a fleet of approximately 2,000 e-scooters. According to TfWM, the e-scooter operation has provided significant transport and environmental benefits to the region with a minimum of 25% of the 2.2 million trips taken, estimated to have used a scooter instead of a car – easing traffic congestion and reducing pollution in the city and nearby area.
TfWM had hoped there would be a seamless transition to a new contract but owing to delays procuring the contract while awaiting clarity over national e-scooter legislation, that has not been possible.
What else is there?
Well, it won’t be one of these.
Micromobility is still a thing however, with West Midlands Cycle Hire being an option for users, which includes e-bikes and is available across much of Birmingham and the wider region.
The intention is to see a public rental e-scooter scheme re-introduced as soon as possible by TfWM. Of course, there’s always the bus network for those slightly longer journeys, as well as Rail and the Metro.
Don’t even think about using your private e-scooter
However, people are reminded that riding a private e-scooter on public roads and in public places remains illegal – however much you see people with private e-scooters scooting around and being a pain in towns and cities.
Only e-scooters that are part of the Department for Transport trials are legal for use within the catchment areas on the road.
For now, you’ll have to take the bike-share scheme or the bus.
Or walk.
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