E-scooters rolling in to region for one-year trial
ELECTRIC scooters will be available to hire on Birmingham’s streets from next week. Swedish company Voi has been appointed to trial the use of e-scooters in the West Midlands for a year, with Birmingham and Coventry city centres the first locations.
The scheme will also be extended to cover Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall, Wolverhampton and Warwickshire.
Voi launched Europe’s first dockless e-scooter service in 2018 and operates in 45 cities across 11 countries.
Maximum speeds will be set at 15.5mph on roads and 5pm in pedestrianised areas.
E-scooters are allowed on any road with a speed limit of 30mph or lower but riders are advised to use designated cycle routes where possible.
Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “The West Midlands is proud to be leading the way on future transport development, and it is great to be able to partner with Voi and reveal our plans for e-scooters across the region.
“E-scooters will help bring more flexibility, choice and greener travel solutions for the West Midlands, at a time when we are facing a climate emergency and urging people to leave the car at home.
“E-scooters unquestionably offer a healthier, more environmentally friendly alternative to the car for shorter journeys around our towns and cities, which will in turn help to ease traffic congestion and tackle air pollution.
“As well as the improvements to our transport network, e-scooters could also be a much-needed boost for the region’s economy, helping to
attract people back into our town and city centres.
“It is a great coup for the West Midlands
to be at the forefront of the Government’s e-scooter trial, and I look forward to continuing to work with Voi and local authorities to make sure we maximise the potential of e-scooters across the region.”
City transport boss Cllr Waseem Zaffar said: “This is brilliant news, and I am delighted that Birmingham will be one of the first UK cities to trial e-scooters. This provides the public with yet another green alternative to the private car, supporting social distancing but also helping to reduce pollution levels and improve air quality.
“Working with our partners, we have managed to turn this project around really quickly and made sure that safety is absolutely paramount. I hope the people of Birmingham will embrace this new, environmentallyfriendly way of getting around our city.”