Milton Keynes Council is wheeling out a trial of e-scooters as part of an innovative national scheme.
The UK Department for Transport has given the council a green light to bring e-scooters to Milton Keynes so they can be trialled as an alternative to short car journeys across the borough. Around 300 e-scooters will be available from Monday 24 August.
Cllr Lauren Townsend, cabinet member for sustainability, said: “It’s great that we’re home to the country’s first large scale e-scooter trial, following on from our track record with shared e-bikes and autonomous delivery robots. I hope lots of people give the e-scooters a try so we can learn what’s possible and share our findings with others.”
Users must be aged at least 18 and hold a provisional driver’s licence. The scooters, which have a top speed of 14.8mph, can be used on Milton Keynes’ 250km of Redways (shared-use paths for cyclists and pedestrians surfaced with red tarmac), as well as on minor estate roads with a 30mph speed limit or less. A system is being developed that geofences the e-scooters and stops them from being used in areas where they are not permitted and roads where the speed limit is over 30mph.
The e-scooters will be bookable through three transport operators: Lime, Ginger and Spin. All three operators will be unveiling booking systems shortly, with costs expected from £1 to use.
UK transport minister, Rachel Maclean, added: “E-scooters could offer cleaner, more efficient and more affordable travel within our towns and cities, and the trials now taking place are helping us assess their impacts on public space, as well as the benefits.
“The rollout of trials in Milton Keynes will build on what we have already learnt from Tees Valley and will see strict safety measures in place – including license verification and geofencing that stops engines that have strayed beyond the clearly marked boundaries.”
