Norwich is to operate an e-scooter trial with British micromobility provider Beryl, following approval by the UK Department for Transport (DfT) and Norfolk County Council
Beryl, which recently added a fleet of e-bikes to its Norwich pedal-bike share scheme, was brought to the city earlier this year through the Transport for Norwich partnership.
The London-based company will initially provide 100 e-scooters, accessible through the same platform as its pedal- and e-bikes, to deliver a multi-modal micromobility service in Norwich.
Councillor Martin Wilby, Norfolk County Council’s cabinet member for highways and infrastructure, said: “Norwich is the ideal place to conduct an e-scooter trial and I am delighted that we have been successful in bringing them to the city.
“We already have a good working relationship with Beryl and the e-scooters will make a fantastic addition to our current offer, bringing sustainable transport options to an even wider range of people and support our shared aims to reduce pollution across the city.”
Beryl promotes a ‘hybrid’ model that incentivises riders to park in geofenced bays, providing the city with a high level of control over vehicles, encouraging responsible parking and ensuring a service that does not impede on the city’s social infrastructure.
Currently, 94% of Beryl Bike trips in the operator’s city-wide scheme in Norwich end in a ‘Beryl Bay’, and the remaining 6% of bikes that are free floating are redistributed to bays by Beryl’s on-street team via cargo bike.
Beryl said the multi-vehicle scheme will give the company an opportunity to learn how choice of vehicle types can assist members of the public across a wider range of journey types and physical abilities. This data will in turn be used to help inform Norfolk County Council as to how it can best implement wider sustainable transport plans by incorporating the right vehicle mix.
This data-led strategy will allow Beryl to offer a full service micromobility partnership with authorities, advising them on how to implement and run systems that sit alongside long-term public transport and environmental strategies.
Beryl said it will update existing parking infrastructure to allow its “multimodal smart fleet” to be hired and parked in an orderly and secure manner, in line with the community’s needs. In some Beryl cities, the bays include planters and seating; whilst there is the ability to add in additional modules such as information boards and charging stations.
The company’s e-scooter, which can be used on roads and cycle lanes, has already passed vehicle approval from the DfT. Each one is fitted with a safety bell and consultations have and will continue to take place with key organisations such as Norfolk police and local disability groups.
During the 12-month trial period, e-scooter riders will be required to provide a valid UK driving license to participate and will be asked to provide feedback on their experiences using the vehicles. The purpose of the trial is to collect valuable data to ensure wider roll-out of e-scooter services are as safe for and beneficial to the wider public as possible.
