Southampton e-scooter trial extended
There are currently 1,250 Voi e-scooters in the city
Last updated 19th Oct 2022
E-scooters will be a staple feature on Southampton’s roads for at least another 18 months and most likely more, after Southampton City Council decided to extend the scheme.
Councillor Eamonn Keogh, cabinet member for transport, and district regeneration said: “It supports our local plan. Our local plan is about creating innovation.
“They add to our local transport goals.”
There are currently 1,250 Voi e-scooters in the city – and are still the only e-scooters that are legal in Southampton.
Voi e-scooters are limited to 12.5mph and are connected to a tracking system so that rule-breakers can be reprimanded.
The extension of the scheme was able to happen, in part, because of another extension that happened at the end of August.
The use of Voi e-scooters in cycle lanes, which, because they are motorised vehicles would not normally be allowed, required an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) to be lawful.
This ETRO was set to expire, meaning the use of the scooters in the cycle lanes would no longer be allowed.
The ETRO was turned into a TRO (Traffic Regulation Order) and almost two months later, cabinet was able to extend the scheme – although this saw 72 objections with some people calling the use of the motorised vehicles ‘an accident waiting to happen’.
The scheme will now run until May 31, 2024.
The Voi contract will be active until November 30, 2023 – when it will have to be extended, or replaced.