For those who like to scoot around, there’s good news as eScooters have returned to Birmingham.
This time, there is a change of operator, Beryl replacing Voi, with a new trial scheme to be conducted.
The first phase of the scheme will see 200 e-scooters made available to hire in the city centre and surrounding neighbourhoods with a further 700 to be rolled out by the end of September 2023.
Major Programme Changes
There are some big changes to the programme however in its use.
Riders must be aged over 18 and provide a valid UK Driving Licence to use the West Midlands e-scooter scheme (either a provisional or full license). There will also be both random and targeted selfie verification checks to deter misuse.
The e-scooters can be used on roads, cycle lanes, carriageways and other areas where cycling is permitted but not on pavements.
People are also reminded that only e-scooters hired from the approved trial scheme can be ridden on the highway and in public places.
In addition, these e-scooters will need to be collected from and returned to a designated dock or parking bay – often located alongside the cycle hire docking stations. This will reduce roadside clutter and keep streets tidy, rather than the dockless model that Voi operated.
Although Beyrl will be taking over a lot of the old Voi infrastructure it seems.
Cost
The e-scooters cost £1 to unlock and 20p per minute to use. They can be hired via the Beryl app, available for download on the App Store for iOS and the Google Play Store for Android users. Available e-scooters, Beryl bays and operating zones are all visible in the app.
The e-scooters are available to hire alongside hundreds of West Midlands Cycle Hire bikes in central Birmingham under the Beryl app.
In Quotes
Beryl CEO and co-founder, Phil Ellis, said:
“We’re really excited to be working with another of the UK’s major city regions and I’m confident that our experience and innovation can help our e-scooters become a crucial cog in the region’s integrated urban transport network.
“As well as being fun, easy to use and cost-effective, our e-scooters provide a sustainable alternative to the car that helps reduce traffic congestion, cut harmful carbon dioxide emissions and improve air quality.
“They’re particularly useful for first and last mile journeys and a great way to connect with other urban transport systems or to commute to and from the office.
“We hope their arrival on the streets of Birmingham will encourage as many people as possible to switch to more sustainable transport.”
Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and WMCA Chair, said:
“Over the last three years, e-scooters became a fixture of Birmingham’s transport network – often proving to be a popular alternative to cars for shorter journeys and helping to reduce road traffic congestion.
“After what was always designed to be an initial e-scooter trial, we took the opportunity of a break in contract to try a different approach with a new operator. I would like to thank regular e-scooter users for their patience during the transition to that new operator – the UK based firm Beryl.
“Central to Beryl’s approach is a docked or parked system which will help reduce clutter on the roadside – ensuring tidier streets and a better experience for pedestrians. Another key element – crucial given previous incidents and lessons to be learnt – is putting in place more safety checks and enhanced verification of users in order to deter underage riders and other instances of misuse.
“E-scooters must be operated responsibly and – in partnership with Beryl – we will continuously monitor these new measures to ensure local people can be reassured about what we’re offering.”
Cllr Liz Clements, cabinet member for transport with Birmingham City Council, added:
“E-scooters provide another sustainable form of transport and I’m pleased to see the extra safety measures with this trial.
“Being able to use them alongside cycle hire, with many of the parking bays located alongside cycle docking stations, means people can hop from one to other and venture even further afield on sustainable, active transport.”
Well, they can’t be worse than the previous scheme
Whilst Voi was convenient in the past, it was far too easy to get access to a scooter, without checks. In addition, the programme was dockless. Which leads to street clutter.
Dump one here…
Or here.
And rather poorly policed to be blunt.
Introducing further accountability to users to ensure they have a valid driving licence, as well as forcing them to park/dock their eScooters might be a pain, as it will require some walking from where you park/dock to your final destination. That could put off a few people.
Safety has been a major concern in the area – especially after an accident which resulted in a minor suffering a fatality.
The local paper has been out playing on them – Economy Class and Beyond will be sticking with two feet, as opposed to scooters, due to matters that prevent the writer from risking his neck on one.
However, docking etiquette appears to be an issue – and that’s just in the initial rollout as your author experienced today.
Welcome to Economy Class and Beyond. Your no-nonsense guide to network news, honest reviews, in-depth coverage, unique research, as well as the humour and madness I only know how to deliver.
Our Social Media pool has expanded. You can find us across most networks as @economybeyond on Twitter, Mastodon, BlueSky, Threads and Instagram too!
Also, remember that we are part of the BoardingArea community, bringing you the latest frequent flyer news from around the world.