Tees Valley Combined Authority to launch first UK e-scooter trial

13/07/2020

Tees Valley Combined Authority will host the first e-scooter trials later this month with an initial 100 units available.

The Government fast-tracked trials of e-scooters as part of a £2 billion investment in green travel solutions.

E-scooter rental trials were given the green light to start from the beginning of the month – a year earlier than planned - to help encourage more people off public transport in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic.

Currently, e-scooters – which can travel at up to 15.5mph – are banned on roads and pavements in the UK.

Tees Valley Combined Authority, consisting of Darlington Borough Council, Hartlepool Borough Council, Middlesbrough Council, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, and Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, is the first local authority to have a trial approved by the Government.

At the start of the trial each parking location will be strictly geo-fenced so users must leave their e-scooters in these locations at the end of the ride.

Working with Ginger, a UK based e-scooter company, it will be responsible for the charging of scooters. As the trial progresses Ginger will look at introducing on-street charging and docking locations.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool are leading the UK in new, clean and innovate technologies. E-scooters are a part of that.

“I have been a big fan of e-scooters for a very long time, and when the Government announced their plans to fast track their introduction, it was obvious that our region should be the first trial area. So, I am thrilled that the UKs first trail on e-scooters on UK roads will take place across Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool.”

The new rules around e-scooter use for the rental trials have been published today (Monday, July 13) by the Government.

The rules for private e-scooters have not changed. It is against the law to use a privately-owned e-scooter.

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