A new safety campaign has been launched in the West by the region’s Mayor and Police & Crime Commissioner.
Scoot Safe is aimed at highlighting that people should ride responsibly and do the right thing on our roads, and thanks everyone who does already.
The West of England e-scooter trial, run by Dott, is one of the largest and most successful in the UK and Europe, with more than 1,500 e-bikes and 2,500 e-scooters in the network. Almost 10,000 rides are being taken daily through the trial.
Helen Godwin, the Mayor of the West of England, said: “We know how handy e-bikes and e-scooters are for some people to get around our towns and cities, and that most people ride responsibly. The number of rides across our region so far shows that it’s an important part of our transport mix. But lots of people have valid concerns.
“Convenient travel for some people shouldn’t inconvenience others. Scoot Safe 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.”
Hiring via Dott is the only way people can legally ride an e-scooter on public roads. Riders must be aged 18 or over and have at least a provisional driving licence. When renting an e-scooter, a rider is bound by the Highway Code, the same as all road users.