Residents, visitors and business users will be able to rent a Voi e-scooter later in March, as part of a government-led trial to allow people to access "a sustainable and socially distanced mode of travel".

 

 

The start of the scheme in Southampton on March 18 is part of a twelve-month trial funded by the Department for Transport, which began on the Isle of Wight in November 2020.

It's being led by Solent Transport, a partnership body that includes Portsmouth City Council and Southampton City Council, and Swedish micro-mobility operator Voi Technology.

It follows the government's decision to fast-track rental e-scooter trials across the country to support the green restart of local travel and to explore how best to manage the growth in this new form of personal transport.

Under Voi's regulations, rental e-scooter users must be over 18 and hold a provisional or full driving licence and users are strongly encouraged to wear helmets. Rental e-scooters can ride on the same road spaces as bikes, including cycle lanes.

The rental e-scooters being used in the trial include unique identification plates and are equipped with bright lights and reflectors for increased visibility.

Privately-owned, unregulated e-scooters will not be included in the trial and remain illegal to use, except on private land.

Richard Corbett, Regional General Manager of UK, Ireland and Benelux for Voi, said: "We look forward to continuing to work with Portsmouth and Southampton City Councils to bring our rental e-scooter scheme to the region later this month. E-scooters are a safe, flexible and affordable way for people to commute or move around. These green active modes of transport can easily be integrated with public transport, replacing short car journeys, ultimately creating better places to work and live."

Ahead of the trial, the council said it and Voi will "continue to work closely to listen and address any local population's safety concerns, especially vulnerable groups".

"Close planning and collaboration with the local police force will go a long way to ensuring the trial's safety," stressed the council.