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New e-scooter trial launched in Liverpool
People in Liverpool will be able to try a new way of getting around the city centre as a new trial of e-scooters begins today.
The year-long pilot scheme, a joint initiative of Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and Liverpool City Council, will see Swedish-based e-scooter company Voi initially bring around 50 of the carbon-neutral vehicles to the city for public hire, with more to follow as the trial continues.
The distinctive coral-coloured e-scooters will be available to hire from Tuesday 6th October using a mobile app and will be placed at key sites around the city centre – including the shopping and commercial districts as well as near to the University of Liverpool and LJMU campuses.
The vehicles will travel at a maximum speed of 10 miles an hour, but their speed will be electronically restricted to around five miles an hour in areas with high footfall.
The trial area will cover Liverpool city centre, extending from the city’s historic waterfront to its Knowledge Quarter, Georgian Quarter and the Vauxhall area to the north of the city centre.
Supported by Department for Transport, the Liverpool e-scooter trial is one of more than a dozen taking place across the UK, including in the West Midlands and Northamptonshire. It is hoped that the vehicles can be used to support public transport and provide a new low-carbon mode of transport, particularly vital at a time when vigilance around social distancing is required.
The scheme has also been designed in close consultation with disability associations including the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB).
Initially the vehicles will only be available to users between 6am and 10pm, in line with national COVID-19 restrictions around the opening of restaurants and bars. Only e-scooters which are part of the trial are currently allowed in Liverpool, with the use of private e-scooters remaining illegal in the UK.
Voi – Europe’s fastest-growing e-scooter company, operating in 45 cities across 11 countries – has an exclusive contract to provide scooters for the trial. The company expect that the trial will create 50 full-time jobs.
Fast Facts: Hiring an e-scooter
There are more FAQ’s here
Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region said:
Councillor Sharon Connor, Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways, said:
Fredrik Hjelm, co-founder and CEO of Voi Technology, said:
The Voi e-scooter app can be downloaded from the App Store and Google Play
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