Beryl will be providing free journeys to NHS staff in Newport as their e-Scooters arrive on the Isle of Wight ahead of their 12-month trial in partnership with Isle of Wight Council, Solent Transport and the Department for Transport.
Key workers looking to take essential journeys in an enjoyable and sustainable way will be able to do so by downloading the free Beryl App, and signing up with their NHS email address and inputting details of their UK driving licence. The first 15 minutes of each trip will be completely free of charge and funded by Beryl.
From today (Thursday), 25 Beryl e-Scooters will be available to hire and drop off at marked Beryl Bays in Newport, with an additional 125 e-Scooters to be added to the scheme in the coming weeks. This measured rollout will allow Beryl and the Isle of Wight Council to be informed by journey data and smoothly adjust the scheme in line with the community’s needs.
The Beryl e-Scooter scheme has launched in Newport to best support the Isle of Wight NHS Trust, but will soon expand to include Ryde and Cowes. Beryl’s scheme will be available to the wider public, but residents are encouraged to only use the e-Scooters for essential journeys; in line with government regulations.
To begin a trip with a Beryl e-Scooter, users follow the simple in-App directions that will unlock the vehicle for use. At the end of their ride, users must lock the scooter via the app and will hear a chime from the scooter to register that it is locked. Beryl e-Scooter’s available to hire are visible both on street and in the app, with Beryl Bays and the Isle of Wight’s operating zone also shown in app.
Councillor Ian Ward, Cabinet member for transport and infrastructure for Isle of Wight Council and Chair of the Solent Transport Joint Committee, said:
“This is an excellent project and a welcome addition to the promotion of sustainable travel on the Isle of Wight.
“Key workers are essential to keeping the Island running at this challenging time, and this scheme will support NHS staff for which e-Scooters can form part of their travel plans.
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Beryl CEO Philip Ellis said:
“We are thrilled to be introducing the Beryl e-Scooter to the Isle of Wight and to be the first scheme operating in the South East of the UK. We have shown, through our existing micromobility schemes across the UK, that Beryl’s hybrid operating model can bring great benefits to communities through flexible, smart and sustainable travel solutions.”
“The Isle of Wight Council and Solent Transport support our vision that e-Scooters can be a viable transport option that positively impacts the entire community. We are excited to see the major benefits that these e-Scooter trials can bring to the Isle of Wight, from cleaner air to reduced congestion and crucially getting people moving again safely post-lockdown.”
The Beryl e-Scooter will be available to hire through 2 payment choices of Pay-As-You-Ride (£1.50 unlock fee + 10p per minute) or Minute Bundles (£1.50 unlock fee and bundles priced at 5 p per minute; 100 minutes for £5, 200 minutes for £10, 300 minutes for £15). Users that park a hired e-Scooter outside of a Beryl Bay will be charged a £10 convenience fee, while users that lock a Beryl e-Scooter outside of the Isle of Wight’s operating zone will be charged £25. This fee covers operational costs associated with returning vehicles back to a bay for another use to ride.
NHS staff have to enter driving licence details, does that mean you need a driving licence to use them?
unless there is a beryl bay in every village, there will be very limited use and at its pricing will be dearer than the bus.
Will riders be insured?
Crossing Lugley Street the other day I was almost knocked over by an e-scooter travelling the wrong way down a 1 way street wearing no helmet, making no sound, no attempt to slow down or dodge me and funny enough rider looked a bit like Aaron.
150 death traps and mowing machines are accidents waiting to happen
They were only launchd today so couldn’t have been a Beryl one?
Just like bicycles. But they don’t seem to cause too much problems.
Having nearly collided with two escooters on different occasions , both of whom were on my side of the road and coming towards me at a fair speed I have reservations .
I think at present there is insufficient guidance on their safe use. They can be a hazard to motorists and pedestrians alike.
Lets wait and see but I hope any accident victims are covered by third party insurance.
Seems a gimmick with our weather.
I was unaware that legislation had been changed/passed making electric scooters a legal for of transport on anywhere other than private land?!
As they are part of an official scheme they are legal. Privately owned scooters are not legal.
Can’t agree with not being allowed to use a Private one but Beryl is ok. Scheme or not. One rule to make money for the council and private company and another rule for private users. Personally I think it’s good but only if private owned can do the same thing otherwise its hypocritical
No sane person would consider the encouragement of e-scooters to be a good idea.
They are too slow and unstable to be allowed on the carriageway and too fast and unstable to be allowed on the footway.
I agree to a point. There is no way these should be allowed on the roads, it is just inviting accidents. On pavements should be ok if they are used with common sense and courtesy. They do not have to be ridden at full speed, they do have a throttle and brakes. Unfortunately some people will behave like idiots on them and give all users a bad name.
It is actually illegal to ride them on pavements, hope anyone doing so is fined, points on licence and a 12 month ban, you would be dealt with if you drove on a pavement in a car to get around a que.
An adult man nearly ran into me riding one of these in the dark on the Cowes to Newport pavement this evening. He was with two other adults who were riding theirs on the road, so at least not all three are total twits. But I have to tell you, guys, adults look really very sad riding these.
The prices with convenience fees makes it unconveniant for my wallet, quick maths suggest I’d need to be rich enough to own one, to rent one.
Back on the lurgie bus it is then
Out last night saw 3 being ridden in Newport all of them were being used on the pavement. Unless rules are enforced we will see a lot more of this along with a lot more private (illegal unless on private land) ones doing anything they want.
All the regulations here:- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/e-scooter-trials-guidance-for-local-areas-and-rental-operators/e-scooter-trials-guidance-for-local-areas-and-rental-operators
Thanks will read that hopefully answer some questions
Having read the above link, it highlights the island’s council failing its residents again !.
The council could have insisted on all users having to have training / instruction before being let loose on them, they could have made it a legal requirement for safety helmets to be worn.
I would like Island Echo to do a follow up investigation into “Beryl” to see their covid safe cleansing regime and their maintenance and service records for the scooters, also to investigate the level of insurance they have, is it just the absolute minimum 3rd party or something a bit better.
Did I read this right, £10 to lock it again?
No you didnt read it right. The £10 charge is if you leave it and lock it OUTSIDE a Beryl bay. If you park it in a bay there is no charge to lock it.
So many, e scooters… wow ! Certainly not looking forward to the crashes that will be in the papers.. vehicle drivers have a hard time already seeing hedges, trees and other vehicles including ones with blue flashing lights… What chance they going to have noticing an e-scooter.. are they going to add a page to the Highway Code, just for e-scooters?
Brilliant comment – totally agree…
Good job the NHS are getting familiar with them as they will have to treat the many inevitable casualties caused by them.
I’ve seen a lot of kids riding like lunatics on theses things today in Newport.
Unlikely given you need a driving licence to hire them. Not Beryl scooters perhaps?
Not correct. I watched quite a few teens aged between looking 15 to 19 years old taking these out (I can see a bay where I work) and going off at high speed hilarity on them. Which made me wonder if a driving licence IS required (I’ve not looked at the app). I can only assume Mums/Dads/others with licences are setting up accounts and giving younger ones the details? Defo young kids on Beryl scooters. High jinks bound to end in an accident IMO.
They were Beryl scooters as they are easy to identify.
Beryl or council have like everyone else decided to rip islanders off beryls pricing in Norwich is
It costs £1.50 to unlock an e-scooter and 10p a minute thereafter. There are options to ‘pay as you ride’ or purchase minute bundles ranging in price from 100 minutes for £5, 200 minutes for £10 or 300 minutes for £15. If you park an e-scooter outside of a Beryl Bay you’ll be charged a £5 convenience fee, or £10 if you lock one outside the Norwich operating zone.
why is out of bay parking £10 and £25 on the island?
Motorists, are licenced with insurance. Unlike e scooters, best get a dashcam.