E-scooter trial to be given six-month extension

An e-scooter trial run by Voi in Portsmouth is set to be extended for another six months. 

In March 2021, Portsmouth City Council and Solent Transport launched an e-scooter rental trial for residents who wanted a new and environmentally-friendly way to travel hire for their essential journeys

The e-scooters are expected to continue to be available across Portsmouth until the end of November after the original closing date of March 31 was scrapped. 

Portsmouth City Council’s report on the e-scooter trial found that they were able to replace over 100,000 car journeys and saved the equivalent of 62.6 tonnes of CO2. 

On the ‘Rental e-scooter trial’ page, the council stated that the results of their latest survey would help inform their decision on whether to extend the trial.

A city council meeting which is expected to take place on March 18 will determine whether or not the trial should be extended until November 30. 

The council’s report found that extending the e-scooter trial will help facilitate e-scooter integration into wider FTZ programme schemes like bikeshare and Mobility as a Service.

Additionally, they deduced that ending the trial this month could slow the progress towards Portsmouth's micro mobility and prevent its integration with bikeshare and MaaS, lessening the chances of legalising e-scooters in future.

Southampton introduced the e-scooter trial under an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) and is uncertain if the scheme will also be extended beyond March 2022. 

Privately-owned e-scooters are currently banned in the UK anywhere except on private land. Portsmouth council’s website assures renters that their scooters are safer than the illegal, privately owned ones.