Transport for London (TfL) has awarded contracts to Dott, Lime and Voi, following a competitive procurement process for operators to run the next phase of London’s rental e-scooter trial.
Last year, TfL and London Councils announced they were extending the UK capital’s trial of rental e-scooters in response to UK Department for Transport (DfT) guidance that allows local authority trials to continue until 31 May 2024.
The next trial phase will build on learnings from the current trial and provide operators with opportunities to test new onboard technologies, including pavement riding detection, tandem riding detection and acoustic vehicle alerts.
TfL said it also expects to see the network of parking locations expanded across the trial.
For the second phase, operators will continue to be required to provide data for TfL and all participating boroughs to understand the impact of e-scooters on London’s transport goals.
TfL launched the procurement process last year and operators were chosen on their ability to meet strict safety requirements and high operating standards, which reportedly exceed the minimum standards specified by the DfT.
The new contracts will begin toward the end of September when the existing contracts finish, and can run beyond the DfT national trial term in the event that trials are extended further.
What’s more, TfL and London boroughs will also explore the design of one coordinated future scheme to manage dockless e-bikes and e-scooters in London, through a contract, to improve parking and increase the quality and sustainability of services in London.
Helen Sharp, TfL’s e-scooter trial lead, said: “We’re really pleased to award Dott, Lime and Voi new contracts to run the next phase of London’s rental e-scooter trial.
“The trial has thrived since its launch two years ago, and we’re excited to see what role e-scooters could play in ensuring a green and sustainable future for London.
“We hope Londoners can continue to benefit from the trial and we will continue to use its data to learn more about the role e-scooters could play in helping people move around London sustainably.”
Since its launch in June 2021, London’s e-scooter trial has expanded significantly, with 10 participating boroughs, more than 600 designated parking locations, of which in excess of 50% are in the carriageway, and more than 5,000 e-scooter vehicles available for hire.
TfL data also shows that, since launching, more than 2.5 million journeys have been made, covering more than 6.46 million kilometres.
Learnings from the trial are designed to help inform government legislation of privately-owned e-scooter vehicles.
