More than 7,000 journeys have been made on e-scooters on the Isle of Wight since their introduction in November — travelling the equivalent of 571 times around the Island.
Not all people have been accepting of the new scheme with the Isle of Wight Council saying it has receives a few complaints.
Councillor Ian Ward, council cabinet member for infrastructure and transport, said the scooters were introduced around the time people were buying private ones and people were unable to tell the difference between the 2. He said:
“It seemed like a lot [of complaints] at the time but it has all died away now. There is very little feedback from the public … but it was a bit hairy at the beginning.
“It was something new that people weren’t used to, so looked for reasons we shouldn’t do it.
“The novelty has worn off now and you are probably only getting the serious user.”
In total, almost 40,000 miles have been travelled on the e-scooters with 95% of journeys finishing in the allocated bays.
The launch started with 25 e-scooters in Newport and has now expanded to Ryde, Cowes and East Cowes, with a total of 99 scooters. The numbers of the for-hire e-scooters is expected to rise to 150.
Despite initial concerns the vehicles would be damaged, the numbers are said to be very low.
Rider corridors have been implemented on the main routes in and between towns and if riders stray off the routes the scooters will slow down and eventually stop.
Similar e-scooter trials are now set to be rolled out across Southampton and Portsmouth and are already happening in Bournemouth.
Now the greens will do the ‘maths’ and multiply 40,000 miles by the most massive, gas guzzling most polluting vehicle on the planet and shout at how much CO2 they have prevented. Whilst living in a massive home, with all the unnecessary luxuries of life, as tired workers risk life and limb balanced on a two wheel toy, as top councillors pass them in huge luxury expenses paid cars.
Someone is going to get caught sooner or later for hiring a scooter then letting their kid ride it….
Bring back the Sinclair c5
Even cyclists use PPE, helmet, hi viz cloths. Like the picture above, every scooter I’ve seen ridden has none. Normally black clothing at night. NO road sense. Just darting around regardless to pedestrians or other road users.
I’m assuming they have a warning device, bell, hooter etc, so pedestrians can jump out of the way, as any other vehicle on the road should have.
There won’t have been a lot of comment from the public because we are in lockdown, wait til the roads busy then they’ll be a real nuisance.
40,000 miles is a fair distance. I would like to kmow :-
How many miles were covered on the footway.
How many miles were covered going the wrong way on a one way street.
How many miles were covered two up.
How many miles were covered by children too young to legally access these vehicles.
Anyone got the answers Mr.Ward?
Appologies for the spolling mistook. I forgot something.
Has anybody seen anyone sanitising their hands or the handgrips of a Beryl E-scooter before or after using one?
As scooters are parked outside any contamination will die off in two hours. Hopfully those riding them will be well. Sensible people would have their own sanitising gel on them.
I believe that when they first published this trial in Newport, they never mentioned that they wanted anyone to complain to them, and I’m also sure they never gave an email address either.
Maybe if they had given those details, more people would have complained.
I’ve seen more people out and about on non rental scooters. So what’s the difference between a hire scooter and private scooter? And what happens if this scheme is deemed successful, will it only be Beryl scooters allowed on the roads or will it be open to competition? I’d rather own my own, why should the Council dictate who is allowed to use them.
Just out of curiosity how many road incidents have there been with cars and pedestrians and injury to scooter user. Also what insurance do the users need or does this fall on the business insurance.
Have used the scooters many times and they are great.
You need a UK driving licence to use one when signing up.
Would recommend.