Verbal update from Rasita Chudasama, Transport Strategy
Minutes:
Rasita Chudasama, Principal Transport Planner, gave a presentation updating the Forum on the E-Scooters trial that was initially launched in Nottingham City in October 2020. She highlighted the following points:
(a) Following a procurement process through the summer Wind Mobility were appointed to manage the trail for Nottingham City. Derby City also appointed Wind Mobility in the same process. The trial has taken learning from earlier trials in other cities and incorporated that into the current trial here;
(b) Initially a small fleet of around 25 scooters were introduced in October 2020, this has gradually been increased to a total of 250. Following a slow start to the trial the total number of rides per day has peaked at 1800 in mid November. This number has now dropped off but that is likely due to the increased lockdown measures currently in place nationally;
(c) The average scooter ride lasts 30 minutes and in total there have been 110,000 miles across the city travelled on the scooters with over 26,000 hours of hire time;
(d) Feedback has been varied. The scheme is popular with young people, it is seen as convenient, and a safe way to travel in the current climate. Sign up to the scheme specifically aimed a Key Workers was initially good, but has since tapered off. This is possibly to do with convenience, cost or preferring not to take the scooters home;
(e) Wind Mobility have been responsive to partners etc. Initially their customer services struggled with the volume of contact from the public but this was quickly addressed and more resources brought in;
(f) There been some strong negative reactions from the public too, these are most often from older people. There have been complaints about abandoned scooters and inconsiderate parking of scooters. This may be explained by the way the app works, although the app indicated parking places for the scooters there is no physical indication at the location that they are designated parking spaces;
(g) Initially there was more demand for scooters than capacity allowed for. However as the fleet size has increased this has evened out. There have been some reports of vandalism, including battery theft, graffiti, helmets going missing and hand sanitizer bottles being ripped off scooters. Reports of these incidents are now in decline;
(h) A number of improvements to the scheme are being considered to address emerging issues including:
· The council marking pavements with designated e-scooter parking both to inform the public and reduce the abandoned scooter reports, and to encourage more responsible and considerate parking by riders.
· Terms and conditions of hire are being altered with consideration being given to a graduated penalty scheme for repeated reports of poor riding. This will include up to suspension and termination of the app account;
· Introduction of number plates to hire scooters to allow easy identification of the hire scheme scooters and riders when reports of bad riding are made
(i) There will be further engagement with wider stakeholders, and non user groups. Disability groups will be consulted to consider improvements for the scheme. More training and education is needed for scheme users, however current restrictions are inhibiting this and limiting options for public engagement. It is hoped that moving forward into the spring and summer more public events can be held as national restrictions are relaxed;
(j) The Council is looking to partner with the local universities to establish the way the scooters are used, the purpose of the trips and the users demographics. It is likely that when students are more mobile as restrictions are relaxed that uptake in the scheme will increase;
During comments and questions the following points were highlighted:
(k) At present there is insufficient data to comment on how users may have previously travelled, however it does seem that trips are being repeated and are not just used as a novelty factor. Based on trip data, it appears that trips are commuter type trips, originating in the city centre in the later afternoon / evening time and travelling outward. These trips could be replacing taxi journeys or public transport journeys but further information needs to be gathered before conclusions are drawn;
(l) For clarification, privately owned e-scooters are not legally allowed to be ridden on public land. Wind had to apply for special governmental permissions for the e-scooters that are part of the trial and it is legal for those to be ridden on the highway and specific off road areas. It is illegal for any e-scooter to be ridden on the pavement;
(m)All of the trial e-scooters are fitted with GPS trackers to enable Wind Mobility to identify individuals who break the rules of the scheme. Warnings are issued and repeat offenders will face sanctions such as fines, suspension of their account and possible banning;
(n) All areas where trials are being run are reporting an increase in the use of private scooters. This is being raised with the Department for Transport and urgent action is being requested to provide a firm position. As a Forum the Nottingham Local Access for can pass feedback on the trial to Rasita and to Councillor Williams, as well as to the trial contractors, Wind Mobility;
(o) Once the trial period is over the Government will be considering the findings and decisions on legalisation of e-scooters are likely to come in 2022. In the meantime public education around the law as it stands is key;
(p) The Forum will make contact with Como UK with a view to being involved in joining local authorities together for lobbying on these issues. The Forum can also make contact with Break, the road safety charity to establish what education offering they have on e-scooters;
The Forum thanked Rasita for her attendance and noted the content of the update.