"Ride these how you would a bike", says the CEO of e-Scooter company, Beryl, which is expected to be bringing its trendy two-wheeled vehicles to the Isle of Wight imminently.
When the trial is confirmed, Islanders will be able to rent them from Ryde, Newport and Cowes 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
As previously reported, the Island has been chosen for a 12-month trial led by Solent Transport working in partnership with the Isle of Wight Council and sponsored by the Department for Transport (DfT). It could start as soon as next month (November).
The trial scheme means the electronic scooters will not only be legal on the Island's roads but also it's thought will also provide a sustainable and affordable means of transport for Islanders.
How will it all work?
- You download the Beryl App
- Take a photo of your driving licence and upload it
- Pay £1.50 to ‘unlock’ the e-Scooter from a Beryl bay
- It’ll then cost 5p per minute once you are on board
- You then return the e-Scooter to a Beryl bay
What about safety?
The scooters are limited to 12.5mph and can be restricted where lower speeds are deemed necessary and you will need a driving licence to use one.
It is also “strongly recommended” that you wear a helmet but it is not mandatory.
Asked about the dangers of the scooters, Beryl CEO, Philip Ellis, told Isle of Wight Radio:
“We basically want to give a simple message to riders which is: use these and ride these where you would a bike - so definitely not on the pavement and definitely don’t do anything that you wouldn’t do riding a bike so jumping red lights or crossing pedestrianised areas.”
What about the legalities?
E-Scooters cannot currently be used legally in the UK, except on private land, but confirmation of the trial by the DfT triggers legislation meaning e-Scooters hired from the approved operator can be used in the designated trial area.
They will only be legally allowed on the road and cycle lanes, not on pavements.
Philip added:
"The legalities of e-Scooters is somewhat confusing, the way that this pilot is being allowed to run is because the DfT has made an exception for shared electric scooter trials that are run between a council and a partner like ourselves.
"We need to do two things - ensure the people who ride them have a driving licence and insure that driver with effectively motor insurance, which allows that scooter to be legal on the roads.
He added:
“The e-Scooter trial, which will be launching at the end of November allows people to hire an e-scooter that is located in specific bays, throughout Ryde, Newport and Cowes. All Islanders need to do is download the app called Beryl and you can then set up an account with us and use your phone as the key to unlock the scooter and start riding.”
“It’s about giving people a sustainable option, in the long term the climate crisis is a big issue...In the short-term, these are a socially distanced way of travelling which is the purpose behind the trial.”
The pilot programme requires no direct funding from the Isle of Wight Council and is the first of many trials planned by Solent Transport.
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