A Swedish micro-mobility company, Voi, is set to trial its first fleet of e-scooters in Cambridge. The UK government granted permission to legally ride e- scooters on the streets of London as a part of a 12-month trial.
Swedish e-scooter sharing company Voi has announced a new trial in the UK, set to begin in April 2021. The trial will take place in the town of Northampton, and will involve 50 e-scooters that can be rented through the Voi app. The e-scooters will be available for use from 6am to 9pm each day, and will cost £1 to unlock and 20p per minute of use.The trial comes as part of a wider push towards more sustainable and environmentally-friendly modes of transport, with e-scooters being seen as a potentially attractive alternative to cars for short journeys. However, e-scooter trials have been controversial in some parts of the UK, with concerns around safety and the potential for e-scooters to cause problems on pavements and other pedestrian areas.In order to address these concerns, Voi has introduced a number of safety measures for the Northampton trial.
The e-scooters will be limited to a maximum speed of 12.5mph, and will be fitted with lights, reflectors, and a horn. Riders will also be required to take a short safety quiz before their first ride, and will be encouraged to wear helmets.Voi has said that it is committed to working with local authorities and other stakeholders to ensure that the trial is a success, and that the e-scooters are used safely and responsibly. The company has already launched successful trials in a number of other European cities, including Paris, Madrid, and Berlin.
The e-scooters will be limited to a maximum speed of 12.5mph, and will be fitted with lights, reflectors, and a horn. Riders will also be required to take a short safety quiz before their first ride, and will be encouraged to wear helmets.Voi has said that it is committed to working with local authorities and other stakeholders to ensure that the trial is a success, and that the e-scooters are used safely and responsibly. The company has already launched successful trials in a number of other European cities, including Paris, Madrid, and Berlin.
Overall, the Voi trial in Northampton is a significant step towards more sustainable and eco-friendly transport options in the UK. While there are concerns around safety and regulation, e-scooters have the potential to play a major role in reducing emissions and congestion in urban areas, and it will be interesting to see how the trials progress over the coming months.
The UK government has recently introduced new legislation allowing e-scooter trials to take place on public roads, as part of efforts to promote greener and more sustainable forms of transport. However, the trials are strictly regulated, and companies like Voi must obtain permission from local authorities before launching any trial.The Northampton trial is part of a wider rollout of e-scooter trials across the UK, with other trials taking place in cities including Birmingham, Liverpool, and Bristol. The trials are expected to run until at least 2022, after which the government will review the legislation and decide whether to make e-scooters legal for general use.
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