Tier, one of London’s chosen e-scooter operators, will roll out a new Safety Pricing model in the capital which is designed to tackle ‘reckless riding’.
With e-scooters being deployed across London today [07 June], Tier will also introduce its new pricing model, that doesn’t charge riders when the vehicles are stationary to discourage riders from mounting pavements to bypass traffic lights.
According to the micromobility operator, e-scooter riders are up against the clock when they use an e-scooter because they are charged by the minute. It believes by not charging riders for the time they spend in traffic, or waiting at traffic lights, it will discourage an urgent or reckless approach to riding.
The policy will also see Tier give riders a free minute at the beginning of each trip, so that they can put on their helmet and plan a safe route at no cost before setting off.
Fred Jones, VP and regional manager for Northern Europe at Tier, said: “Tier’s mission is for shared, electric micro-mobility to deliver on its potential to make our towns and cities less polluted and congested. We will not pursue that mission at the cost of making our cities less inclusive or less safe.
“During the London tender process, Transport for London recognised our commitment to safety, and we aim to deliver on this. By introducing our Safety Pricing feature and private e-scooter exchange scheme for the launch in June, we are already enabling far more responsible e-scooter use in London.
“Working with Tier Safety Board members such as London Vision and Transport for All, we will keep listening to the concerns of the public – especially people with sight loss and other disabilities – and develop solutions that benefit everyone in society.”
Additionally, Tier aims to tackle illegal e-scooter use in London by offering private owners in the capital the chance to trade in their vehicles to be recycled or repurposed in exchange for ride credit with the company. The scheme is designed to give private e-scooter owners the opportunity to enjoy riding e-scooters safely without breaking the law and risking hefty fines or losing their driving licence.
Tier will offer to collect e-scooters from private owners and take them away to be recycled with a local recycling partner or repurposed through a charity or social enterprise in another Tier territory where private use is legal, depending on the condition of the vehicle. In exchange, they will be given Tier e-scooter ride credit equal to their vehicle’s value, up to £150, allowing them to use the company’s rental e-scooters across the city.
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