News / Transport
Riders to be banned from hiring e-scooters if they take passengers
Since the introduction of Bristol’s e-scooter hire scheme, riding the vehicles with passengers has been prohibited but never strictly enforced.
That is now set to change, however, with a “one strike and you’re out” policy.
Users will be banned from the Dott app for tandem riding and also letting anyone else use their driving licence to hire a scooter or bike.
A new safety campaign called Scoot Safe from metro mayor Helen Godwin and police & crime commissioner Clare Moody comes ahead of a new trial area for e-bikes and e-scooters launching in Yate and Chipping Sodbury on Friday.
There are currently more than 1,500 e-bikes and 2,500 e-scooters available to hire across the Bristol and Bath area, with some 10,000 rides daily rides in what is still a trial period.
Godwin said that “lots of people have valid concerns” about the scheme.
She said: “Convenient travel for some people shouldn’t inconvenience others.
“Scoot Safe, which will roll out over the coming weeks, emphasises the need for responsible riding and parking to help people to keep themselves and others safe.
“Enhanced enforcement from Dott will mean people are kicked off the app when more than one person rides on an e-scooter, alongside new fines for poor parking and easier ways for people to report issues.
“All of this will strike a better balance, with more marked parking zones for e-bikes and e-scooters making our pavements tidier for everyone, including Disabled people.”
Moody said: “E-scooters can be a convenient way to travel but must be used legally and responsibly…
“The Scoot Safe campaign is about making sure everyone can use our streets safely and making sure unsafe riding has consequences.”
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Dott’s head of public policy, Iqbal Ahmed, added: “Our partnership with the Mayoral Combined Authority has been keen to the success of the e-scooter and e-bike trial in the West of England.
“While the vast majority of our riders use our service responsibly, we are expanding our efforts to ensure all our riders follow the rules and use our service safely.
“Campaigns like Scoot Safe play an important role in our efforts to continuously educate users.
“Our mission is to rethink urban mobility in a way that’s sustainable and convenient, but always with respect for the safety and needs of both riders and non-riders alike.”
Main photo: Martin Booth
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