Bristol and Bath to get new e-scooters next year?
Companies are being invited to bid to run a new long term rental scheme across the region
We could have new e-scooters across Bristol and Bath from next year, as the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) says it is letting companies bid to run a rental scheme in the region, long term.
E-scooters have already been available to rent in both cities since 2020 thanks to the Swedish company Voi, but their red scooters, which have become a common sight in both cities, are only here at the moment on a trial basis.
In a statement WECA says it is looking for a firm "to take the scheme to the next level" and that it has issued a “prior Information notice to the market” to kick off the tender process.
“The trial has had some notable successes with over a quarter of a million local people using them - which is record breaking nationwide," West of England Metro Mayor Dan Norris said.
"But there have also been challenges including on safety.
"I back schemes that encourage people to leave the car behind and help us to meet our ambitious net zero targets.
"I would very much like to encourage providers to now come forward and explain how they would provide a reliable, safe and affordable service for West of England residents.”
There have been some incidents involving e-scooters in which riders have been left seriously injured.
For example, just last week on Wednesday, October 26, a woman was left fighting for her life in hospital after being hit by a car whilst riding an e-scooter near Temple Meads train station.
A young man was also left seriously injured after being hit by a car while on an e-scooter in the Fishponds area of Bristol in July, while a third person was badly injured when they crashed into a parked car in Avonmouth last March.
However, in May data shared by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) suggested that using an e-scooter is actually five times safer than cycling or using a motorbike.
Their conclusion was based on data from both the Department for Transport (DfT) and e-scooter operator Neuron, from 2020.
Voi, the firm currently running the trial scheme, also found itself embroiled in controversy after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, when it emerged two Russian businessmen were shareholders in the company.
That issue was deemed so serious that Voi's chief executive, Fredrik Hjelm, flew to Bristol for a meeting with Dan Norris and held a press conference afterwards, during which he confirmed Voi would not be accepting any new investment from Russia.
However, getting the two Russian businessmen to sell their stake is more complicated as both sides have to agree a fair price.
By the numbers, Voi's involvement here is the most successful trial of e scooters anywhere in the UK, but that could end in 2023.
"I have impressed upon Fredrik how serious I think this (the Russia issue) is," Mr Norris said back in April.