Cycle & scooter shuffle: Council wants single operator for e-scooters & bikes

beryl bikes docked in Portswood 16 7 23 600pxSouthampton City Council has given the green light to plans designed to see a single operator managing both rental e-scooters and cycles.

 

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Currently, Beryl oversees rental bicycles and e-bikes, while Voi handles rental e-scooters.

The move towards a unified operator aims to realise economies of scale, making the scheme more commercially viable and flexible in meeting seasonal demands.

The unified approach is already used in areas including Bournemouth, Poole and Oxford.

Councillors have also agreed to extend the rental e-scooter trial until May 31, 2026, to align with the Department for Transport's (DfT) new end date for national trials.  

beryl bikes docked in Portswood 16 7 23 600px

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