E-scooters and e-bikes look set to be available on the Isle of Wight until at least 2026, but a new contract to run them is now being sought, which will cover the whole of the Solent region.
The current contract - a trial period which has subsequently been extended - lasts until June, but fears for the hire vehicles' economic viability have prompted a rethink.
Since October 2022, e-bikes and e-scooters have been available to hire on the Island through Beryl.
They are currently funded by the Solent Future Transport Zone (FTZ).
How does the e-scooter hire scheme work?
- They can be booked out using an app on your mobile phone, which is linked to your bank account.
- You much have at least a provisional licence to use them.
- Once you are verified user, you enter a code or tap your phone on the vehicle and your hire time begins.
- You tap off to finish your ride.
- Users currently pay an unlock free and 16p per minute or can buy a pass.
FTZ funding ends in June 2025 and, after that, it will be down to the operator to make micromobility, as the vehicles are collectively known, a financial success.
Since the Island's scheme started there have been over 150,000 journeys - most of them in the first two years of the trial - on Beryl's e-scooters and over 7,000 on e-bikes.
At its peak, there were 200 e-scooters available to use, but a report, presented to members of the Isle of Wight Council's cabinet, reveals that fell as low as 61 in December, due to vandalism, the need for repairs and a decision by the operator to concentrate more resources in the two Hampshire cities.
Beryl also operates e-bikes in Portsmouth and Southampton but Voi run the two cities' e-scooters.
However, once the tender process is complete, from July 1, a single operator is expected to take on the contract for the Isle of Wight, Southampton and Portsmouth.
Meanwhile, we are reminded only e-scooters rented through a scheme like Beryl's can be used on public roads.
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