West of England e-scooters delivers transformational mobility shift

Bath, Bristol and South Gloucestershire have seen a major shift in urban mobility, according to an evaluation of the region’s e-scooter trial by the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol).

Launched in October 2020, the west England e-scooter scheme, one of 32 trials authorised by the UK government, has achieved usage levels three times higher than any other scheme in England. Analysis suggests one in 15 residents use the micromobility mode every month.

The initiative, operated by Voi Technology initially and soon to be taken over by Tier Mobility, has offered short and long-term e-scooter rentals to the public.

Commissioned by the West of England Combined Authority (WECA), UWE Bristol’s researchers examined data from the trial, including usage patterns, collision and injury data, and user interactions with other street users.

Kiron Chatterjee, professor of travel behaviour at UWE Bristol, who led the study, said, “Our findings indicate that e-scooters have become an integral part of life in the region, with approximately 64,000 people using rental e-scooters each month.

“These riders predominantly include younger adults aged 18-35 who have found the e-scooters to be a convenient mode of transportation for work, college, university, leisure, and shopping.”

However, the study also highlighted some disparities in e-scooter usage. Younger adults, particularly those without access to cars, were the primary beneficiaries, raising questions about broader adoption of e-scooters across the population.

One area of concern was the interaction between e-scooters and other road users. Dr Jonathan Flower, senior research fellow at UWE Bristol, reported a high number of near-misses involving e-scooters, cyclists, and motor vehicles. In response to the findings, Flower emphasised the importance of well-designed cycling infrastructure to ensure the safety of all road users.