Agenda item

To consider a report on the proposed running of the E-Scooter Trial.

Further to Minute No. 102/20 of the Cabinet (meeting held on 18 November 2020) the Board considered a report on the current e-Scooter Trial taking place in West Bromwich. 

West Bromwich was chosen as the location for the trial based on its high footfall; low speed roads (due to West Bromwich’s 20mph zone); transport links (in particular West Midlands Metro and West Bromwich Bus Station); day time population (estimated pre-Covid at approximately 13,600) and size (just over one square mile). 50 Voi scooters were operational in the trial zone.

The trial had been extended to March 2022, which would allow the Council to assess the operation of e-scooters in a fully open town centre environment, as opposed to what had primarily been a partially open down centre due to lockdown.

The speed limit and operating hours had been increased, which brought the West Bromwich trial into line with regional and national trails, which would improve the quality of the data collected from the trial. 

Scooters were one of the new forms of transport emerging as technology, cost effective manufacturing and batteries improved.  In a wider initiative to promote walking and cycling as part of a green and healthy recovery from COVID 19, the Secretary of State for Transport had announced the acceleration of twelve-month E-Scooter trials planned for 2021.

Scooter parking would continue to be ‘dockless’. Apart from defined ‘no park zones’, users would be able to leave their scooters wherever their trip ended as long as it followed parking standards. Parking docks or incentivised parking zones (IPZs) may be installed by Voi based on where trips naturally began and ended within the extended the trial zone.

Users were be able to book and pay for the E-Scooters using Voi’s smartphone app. Users would pay a basic rate of 20p per minute, or £12 per hour.

Since the trial began in December 2019, the West Bromwich trial zone had seen:

•        85,591km travelled.

•        1,614 total users.

•        0.7 average rides per vehicle per day.

•        0 Serious injuries (self reported, broken bones etc.).

•        4 slight injuries (self reported, falling off scooter, bruises, cuts).

•        Average of 5 reports of pavement riding per week.

Following comments and questions from members of the Board, the following responses were made, and issues highlighted:-

•        Use of illegal e-scooters continued and the majority of serious accidents, including the recently reported death in Wolverhampton, had occurred due to illegal and inappropriate use.

•        Users were required to register a driving licence to use e-scooters as part of the trial.

•        Voi’s model of e-scooter included a GPS tracking device which recorded where the e-Scooter was located - if a scooter was to leave the trial zone or enter a ‘no ride zone’ as reported by GPS, the engine would cut out.

•        The trial would enable officers to identify issues and gather sufficient data to report back to the Department for Transport and allow Sandwell to have a say in discussions around potential legalisation.

•        The e-scooters’ speed was currently limited to 10mph.

•        The Council could halt the trial at any point.

•        The trial had been positive so far.  The use of e-scooters was part of the wider conversation about sustainable transportation to reduce emissions.

•        Members felt that the cost of the scooters was unaffordable for many.

•        The area of the trial zone would not be extended due to concerns around the safety of the highways in the extension area.

The Board would maintain oversight of the trial.