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E-scooter trial gets green light to launch at university campus

E-scooter trial gets green light to launch at university campus

Posted on 11 September 2020

E-scooters will be available for use from the University of York as part of a pilot programme offering commuters a sustainable alternative to public transport during the pandemic.

E-scooters to be used by commuters from campus into the city Credit:Ben Gurr

The Department for Transport-approved scheme, will initially see around 100 e-scooters deployed across the city, including at the University campus, with more scooters and e-bikes to follow.

Renting an e-scooter in York will cost riders £1 to unlock the vehicle and 15p per minute travelled.

Safety features

The University is working in partnership with the City of York Council who announced the year-long trial which is being run by operating company TIER.

The scooters come with industry-leading safety features including an integrated helmet, the largest front wheel in the market, a wider foot plate, dual suspension, a double kick-stand and dual drum brakes for stable riding on uneven surfaces and conditions.

Professor Kiran Trehan, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Partnership and Engagement at the University of York said: "We are delighted and looking forward to working with our partners, including City of York Council, to help pilot these sustainable transport options which we hope will be widely used by our campus community alongside the residents and visitors of York.

"We have a long-standing sustainable transport plan and the introduction of E-scooters will add further impetus."

Sustainable

Cllr Andy D’Agorne, Executive Member for Transport at City of York Council, said: “This will provide a fantastic opportunity to explore how e-scooters might add to the mix of sustainable transport options, whilst helping to improve air quality and expand our electrical vehicle charging offer. The trial will also form part of the city’s Covid-19 response in terms of, for example, providing sustainable alternatives to support capacity on public transport across the city.

“We’re excited to approve the trial in York and to be working alongside TIER. Together we will ensure there are clear and effective channels of communication which are critically important to get early warning of any issues that need to be addressed, to assess the impact and to learn all the lessons from the trial.”

Benefits

TIER UK General Manager Fred Jones said: “York is a very special place, steeped in 2,000 years of history, and we are very proud to be supporting the city as it looks to the future of urban transport.

“We believe that the e-scooter trials will bring major benefits to York residents, from cleaner air to reduced congestion, and crucially they can also help to get people moving again safely post-Covid.”

TIER has approached the Sight Loss Councils to gain a greater understanding of the safety concerns blind and partially sighted people have around e-scooters - namely that they can be difficult to hear and riders of the scooters may not recognise a person has a visual impairment.

The scheme is expected to be launched later this month.