News / Transport
Rees on Voi e-scooters: ‘It’s had a massive impact on the city’
Marvin Rees says that hire e-scooters are “exciting” and “dynamic” as the end of their trial period in Bristol approaches.
“It’s had a massive impact on the city which has translated into replacing short car journeys,” said the mayor in a short promotional video for Voi, whose coral-coloured vehicles are now a familiar sight on our city’s streets.
Since the start of the scheme in October 2020, the Bristol trial has become one of Voi’s most popular rental e-scooter services in Europe with more than three million rides taken.
is needed now More than ever
Rees said that Vois are “a sign that people in the West of England are really picking this up as a mode of transport”.
“Now it’s become a habit. This is now a norm.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AkZhJEuvJI
Rees said: “We’re in an age now where we need what we call sustainable urbanisation, things like Voi scooters, cycling, walking; these are all going to be planned into the future of urbanisation of UK cities.
“It’s exciting, it’s dynamic, it’s open, it’s incredibly convenient.”
But not everybody is such a convert to the hire scooters, with opposition councillors calling for the trial to be halted ahead of its extended end date of March amid mounting concerns about their safety.
The Conservative group say there would be “chaos” on Bristol’s roads if the rental scheme is made permanent and private electric scooters are permitted on roads as well.
Voi e-scooters have become a familiar sight on Bristol’s streets since they were first introduced in October 2020 – photo: Martin Booth
Main photo: Voi
Read more: Fire breaks out in Voi warehouse
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