Voi Technology quadruples Bath operating area in the UK

Credit: Voi Technology

Voi Technology has announced that more communities in Bath will benefit from sustainable travel, as it has quadrupled its operating area for its shared e-scooter scheme to eight square miles.

Introduced over two phases, the first phase of the expansion has already seen Voi’s operating area increase earlier in June (10 June 2022) to six square miles and includes areas such as East Twerton, Oldfield Park, Bear Flat, Bathampton and Batheaston, amongst other areas. The second phase will soon see the scheme open up to more people further south of Bath’s city centre in July 2022, covering Southdown and Combe Down.

This expansion means that riding a Voi e-scooter will become easier and more convenient as the service is now available to a significant portion of the 100,000 people that live in the city. 

Since the scheme was launched in October 2020, more than a quarter of a million rides have taken place on Voi scooters, helping prevent more than 70,000 unnecessary short car journeys and saving an estimated 30 tonnes of CO₂ from entering the atmosphere.

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With a larger operating area, more people will also be able to take advantage of the service and the various discounts available, including for those on low incomes, NHS staff and students. 

Sam Pooke, Voi’s Senior Public Policy Manager for UK and Ireland, said: “We are delighted Bath and North East Somerset Council has decided to expand our operating area. Their decision is a vote of confidence in what Voi has continued to deliver since launching the scheme in 2020 – a safe, reliable, affordable and overwhelmingly popular service for all. With more e-scooters on the ground and more opportunities to take advantage of Voi as a sustainable alternative service for getting across the city, Bath is always one ride closer to improving air quality, tackling congestion and most importantly, creating a better city for living.”

Councillor Matt McCabe, Bath and North East Somerset Cabinet Assistant for Sustainable Transport, said: “The purpose of including the whole city in these final months of the trial is to see whether e-scooters can reduce the number of short car journeys in Bath. The government has announced that it will bring forward legislation to legalise e-scooters later this year, so this is the last chance for residents to experience them in a controlled manner. Voi is ready to deal with any issues regarding the scooters, where they are parked, and how they are ridden.”