E-scooter firms Tier, Bolt and LINK call on Portsmouth City Council to bring in hire scheme to combat menace riders
FIRMS hoping to bring e-scooters to Portsmouth have stressed the importance of an official city-wide scheme being introduced to stop the menace of illegal riders.
Several firms are bidding to bring a rental scheme into the city, which would see stations installed with e-scooters available to hire, similar to bike rental schemes in London.
Currently it is illegal to ride e-scooters on roads or pavements, with people who break the law facing fines and points on their driving licence.
There have been growing calls for the vehicles to be regulated, as they have proved popular with youngsters, and many have been seen riding illegally - and dangerously – across the area, as reported by The News earlier this week.
One of the firms lobbying Portsmouth City Council is Bolt Rentals.
Matthew Barrie, UK country manager of Bolt Rentals, said the proposal, if given the green light, would make Portsmouth’s transport system economically viable, safer and greener.
He said: ‘We are keen to take responsibility for this new form of transport. Don’t be frightened of the scooters. We are here to be a trusted partner and to work hand in hand with the council to the city to ensure the best possible reaction.’
He said their technology allows for greater control of the vehicles, enabling them to set up zones where the scooters do not work, such as pavements.
He also said the scooters would benefit the whole city, by improving air pollution, cutting traffic and helping prevent the spread of coronavirus.
His message was backed by Fred Jones, from Tier, another company bidding for the Portsmouth licence.
Fred said: ‘Services like ours are so important. If you don’t provide a controlled service, with an experienced company, with robust sturdy vehicles, then people will just buy toy-like scooters and cause problems. It is vital to get a regulated service set up.’
Another firm hoping to bring the service to Portsmouth is American company Link.
Haya Verwoord Douidri, vice president at Link, said: ‘Micromobility has great potential to transform how Brits move. We are excited to bring the safest e-scooters to the UK. Helping people get back outside, safely, is now more important than ever.’
Currently, Solent Transport is considering proposals for trials that would then be submitted to the Department for Transport. if approved, they would be subject to competition and approval process.
The firms hope to have hundreds of scooters and scores of docking stations across the city as early as October.