Rental e-scooters and a bike share scheme will continue to be part of the Isle of Wight’s transport mix.
Senior officer Michelle Love has approved recommendations in a council report to extend the micromobility contract for the Isle of Wight and continue to participate in Department for Transport (DfT) e-scooter rental trials.
Solent Transport, a partnership of Southampton City Council, Portsmouth City Council and the Isle of Wight Council, received £28.8 million from the DfT in March 2020.
The funding was for the Solent Future Transport Zone (FTZ), described by County Hall as a programme of ‘innovative’ transport trials across the Solent area.
Rental e-scooter and bike share schemes, known as micromobility, are key elements of the FTZ.
The Island has hosted a rental e-scooter trial since November 2020 and a bike share scheme since October 2022, according to the council.
Both were run by Beryl before Voi took over the contract in July 2024.
In July 2025, the DfT announced an extension of the rental e-scooter trials until May 2028 – the fifth time they have been extended.
A council report from transport strategy officer Kayleigh Richter said:
“The e-scooter rental trials are a great opportunity to demonstrate what a rural space and an Island setting could achieve with a new form of technology and new way of travelling across the Island.
“It is crucial that we continue to take part in these trials to help further inform future legislation and further operations.
“The trial also benefits the Island economically and offers more choice and options for residents and visitors to get around the Island.”
In addition, the scheme closely aligns with County Hall’s strategic aims including the Island Transport Plan, the report noted.
How do we object to this?
Any notice taken of residents views?
Consultations?
Money would be better spent on Adult Social Care so people were not sent in taxis to Bournemouth.
Authorities don’t listen to the persons who pay their
wages.
Eh! What money?
We tried objecting, the local councillor wasn’t interested.
Majority of councillors only do the job to line their
own pockets, bit like politicians.
Ridiculous, numpties use them wrecklessly with no helmets on.
UNSAFE contraptions.
Those brown envelopes must be very lucrative.
Sadly everyone has a price.
We now have 14 of these outside our house and only a couple get used. Kids going to school have to navigate round them.
They are an Health and Safety issue.
If someone trips over these pieces of sh*t and break
their neck or leg, the compensation will be huge.
No democracy here. Majority of people on the Island HATE these things that are rarely used properly and are dangerous. As always, the world of now is only about MONEY
Sadly the world has always been about money.