You can now rent an e-scooter in Southampton
A trial has launched in the city, with free rides for NHS workers
Southampton residents are now able to use e-scooters to travel around the city as a trial begins today (March 18).
A total of 50 rental e-scooters are going to be available at five docking stations across the city.
Those include Southampton Central Station North, the SeaCity Museum, Guildhall Square, the University of Southampton and the Highfield Campus and Wessex Lane.
Residents will be able to hire e-scooters from 6am to 10pm, either as a pay-as-you-go or subscription service.
The e-scooters supplied by Voi Scooters will cost £1 to unlock and then £0.14 per minute of usage.
But civic chiefs said there will also be offers including 24-hour at £5 and 30-day at £55 subscriptions.
However, the service will be free for NHS and emergency service workers until the end of lockdown.
There will also be discounts for students and those on a low income.
The news comes as last year the Department for Transport approved plans for the seven-month trial.
E-scooters will not exceed 10mph and will be slower in some areas.
People will be able to ride e-scooters across the area of the city between Guildhall Square, Wessex Lane and the University of Southampton.
However, people will not be able to ride e-scooters in city parks and the Common.
But civic chiefs said the decision will be kept under review and more parking racks will be installed as the trial progresses.
Within the earmarked area there will also be no-ride zones and slow-speed zones. Transport bosses said when a user travels out of the operational zone the e-scooter will slow and stop.
Cllr Steve Leggett, cabinet member for green city and place, said:
“The trial will help to keep the city moving as we start to emerge from the pandemic, while also supporting our Green City Plan to tackle climate change by offering greener and healthier alternatives to the car.”
To be eligible to ride a Voi e-scooter, residents will need to be at least 18 years old and have at least a provisional driving licence, which will need to be uploaded to the Voi app.
Civic chiefs stressed that privately-owned, unregulated e-scooters remain illegal, except on private land.
Richard Corbett, regional general manager of UK, Ireland and Benelux for Voi, said:
“We are excited to launch our shared e-scooter trial in Southampton. E-scooters offer residents and visitors a unique opportunity to commute or move around safely in their local area.”