E-scooters coming to Chard and Crewkerne
It's part of a Department for Transport trial scheme
Residents of two Somerset towns will soon be able to travel by e-scooter after a new phase of trials was launched.
The Department for Transport (DfT) has authorised a number of e-scooter trials across the UK, as part of a drive towards encouraging more sustainable forms of transport in urban areas.
South Somerset District Council has entered into a partnership with Zwings in the first phase of its trial, with its first e-scooters being made available to rent in Yeovil town centre from late-October 2020.
The trial has now been extended to include both Chard and Crewkerne, with both towns to get their own e-scooters from Thursday (March 25).
As in the Yeovil phase of the trial, the scooters will be stored at designated parking bays across both towns, allowing people to start and end their journeys in different places.
Those wishing to use the vehicles can download the Zwings app and use their driving licence to create an account.
After this, they can locate an available scooter using the app’s map and unlock it with a charge of £1, plus 15p for every minute (10p per minute if the journey is paused at any point).
Councillor Sarah Dyke, portfolio holder for the environment, said: “The already-successful Yeovil e-scooter trial scheme is testament that there is a need for alternative sustainable transport choices to replace short about town solo car journeys.
“It goes without saying that less cars are beneficial for everyone, helping reduce congestion, parking and pollution, and with e-scooting there is the added bonus of being in the fresh open air, which is great for well-being.
“We have worked closely with Crewkerne and Chard councillors and key stakeholders, whose valuable input, local knowledge and positive approach has helped to bring the scheme to fruition with micro-mobility operators Zwings, to safely deliver this innovative, sustainable transport choice to residents, visitors and employees of Chard and Crewkerne and we hope they embrace the scheme and all the benefits it will bring.”
The e-scooters will be regularly recharged and maintained by local Zwings teams, and will be sanitised to reduce the coronavirus risk.
Those who use the e-scooters are asked to wear helmets while riding and to abide by all traffic laws and speed limits, ensuring that other road users are not put at unnecessary risk.
E-scooters “angels” were deployed in the Yeovil area over the Christmas period to prevent people from using the vehicles while under the influence of alcohol.
Zwings CEO Joe Lewin said: “We recognise that both Chard and Crewkerne are key towns in South Somerset, and our local and head office teams are thrilled to be introducing e-scooters into both locations as phase two to the successful trial hire scheme in Yeovil.
“Our team has enjoyed forming a partnership with the council and local stakeholders through this trial to help the community transition towards de-carbonised car alternatives that allow for social distancing, and to reimagine the way they travel from A to B.
“We recognise that the first few months of our launch will be crucial to gain an understanding of the community’s response, and will continually seek to improve the trial experience in order to best suit localised needs, including those of vulnerable groups and the police, with whom we are working closely with.”
Currently 60 per cent of car trips across Somerset are between one and three miles, the majority of which are made by the driver alone, according to council statistics.