Southampton to begin scooter trial with Voi later this month

Credit: Voi

A scooter trial is set to begin in Southampton later this month, as the city council has partnered up with micromobility provider Voi.

The launch is part of a twelve-month trial funded by the Department for Transport, which began on the Isle of Wight in November 2020.

Riders will be able to rent the vehicles from 18 March, but they must be over 18 years of age and hold a full or provisional driving license. Privately-owned e-scooters remain illegal, except if used on private land.  

The e-scooter operator is also working closely with Southampton City Council and Portsmouth City Council to create geofenced areas, including slow riding, no riding and mandatory parking areas, to ensure riders and other road users’ safety – an area micromobility companies shave focussed their efforts on recently.

“We welcome the trial of rental e-scooters which will help to keep the city moving as we start to emerge from the pandemic in the Spring, while also supporting our Green City Plan to tackle climate change by offering greener and healthier alternatives to the car. Crucially, rental e-scooters will also offer a unique way to get our visitors and residents more active,” said Cllr Steve Leggett, Cabinet member for Green City and Place for Southampton City Council.

Richard Corbett, Regional General Manager of UK, Ireland and Benelux for Voi, added: “We look forward to continuing to work with Portsmouth and Southampton City Councils to bring our rental e-scooter scheme to the region later this month.

“E-scooters are a safe, flexible and affordable way for people to commute or move around. These green active modes of transport can easily be integrated with public transport, replacing short car journeys, ultimately creating better places to work and live.”

A similar trial is expected to go ahead in neighbouring Portsmouth later this year, while the trial in Winchester has reportedly been scrapped.