100 e-scooters could be used in Southampton trial

Highways chiefs are to pick a potential operator as they await a government go-ahead for a year-long trial scheme.

Tier, which operates e-scooters in around 70 cities in Europe, has confirmed it is bidding to take part in the trial, which it said could start as soon as November.

Its e-scooters would be fitted with technology that can slow them to a walking speed in areas where they are not allowed.

Fred Jones, Tier’s UK general manager, said the company had learned the lessons of other operators such as YoBikes, which ended its cycle hire scheme in Southampton after being plagued by vandalism.

He told Daily Echo: “There are a lot of things we can do to allay some of the rightful concerns out there that some groups have with this new technology.

“We look at the history of those bikes and some of the other early scooter operators and only by treating the streets and the vulnerable members of the community with a bit of respect and consideration do you earn the right to operate this type of technology.”

The move comes just days after policein Eastleigh threatened to seize e-scooters due to a rise in anti-social behavour.

Tier’s e-scooters would be rented using a phone app which allows the user find a scooter, unlock it and park it again safely after the trip.

• Police launch crackdown on e-scooters

Mr Jones, pictured below, said Southampton City Council had indicated it was interested in connecting the city’s park and ride with the hospital.

“We would expect that as November gets a bit closer, they will start to reveal some more details getting into specific service areas.

"I think they’ve initially said it’s around 100 scooters but it might be a few more or fewer,” he said.

Tier’s bikes have a front light, a bell, a 30cm front wheel and “suspension like a mountain bike” to deal with cobbles and potholes. There is an integrated mobile phone holder and a box containing a foldable crash helmet.

They have a double kickstand to prevent them falling over. If they do fall over, a sensor sends a message to Tier’s staff so they can be righted.

They weigh 30kg – 66lbs – to deter thieves.

Their top speed is 15.5mph but Mr Jones said the company would use “geo-fencing” technology to limit the areas where the scooters could operate.

If the scooters were taken into an unauthorised area, they would slow to a “very slow walking speed” of 3mph.

Mr Jones said: “Research from lots of cities across Europe shows that for about a third of trips, people say ‘If a scooter wasn’t here, I would have taken my car’.

"Around 60 per cent of car journeys in the UK are less than three miles and have an occupant of one, so there’s ample opportunity to get people out of their car and onto a scooter.”

One year ago a cycle rental scheme in Southampton was scrapped.

The decison to pull the Yobike scheme came after bosses claimed a rise in the number of bikes being vandalised.

• Yobike scheme pulled from streets of Southampton

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• Cycle rental boss hits back at bike vandals

Solent Transport – which unites Southampton, Portsmouth, Isle of Wight and Hampshire councils – has submitted proposals to the Department for Transport (DfT).

It said: “As always, Solent Transport are at the forefront of discussions on new technology and services that may benefit the Solent area and have been actively engaging in this process on behalf of our partner transport authorities.

“At this time, potential plans are being formulated but no final decisions have been made regarding whether proposals for trials will be awarded by the DfT to Solent Transport. A procurement process is currently being carried out to identify shared e-scooter operator(s) to deliver the trial.

"The DfT will decide upon proposals from local authorities including confirming that operator(s) meet their standards on criteria such as vehicle safety.

“If Solent Transport is awarded the trial by the DfT would allow us and our partners to employ an e-scooter provider to work with us to deliver a shared e-scooter trial that meets the strict defined legal, safety and service requirements set out by DfT.”