Collaborative Mobility UK (CoMoUK), a shared transport charity, has warned local authorities to ensure that procurement practises of e-scooter schemes are high quality, sustainable and fair.
More than 50 cities and towns in the UK have trialled the introduction of e-scooters as a mode of shared transport. The trials have used several different operators in different areas.
Many of the schemes have been extended and others are or will be going through procurement.
CoMoUK has stressed that local authorities should not be seeking large financial contributions from e-scooter operators due to concerns that this would threaten the viability of such schemes. In addition, this could lead to schemes being put in place based primarily on money, disregarding the importance of sustainability.
In a letter to local authorities, Richard Dilks, chief executive of CoMoUK, said: “We urge authorities to exercise caution in seeking financial contributions from operators, both as a matter of good public procurement practice and to avoid threatening the viability of schemes and operators.”
The charity suggested profit-sharing as an alternative funding model that does not involve large cash sums, which may potentially impact the procurement process.
