Weston in Bath will soon be included in the areas where residents will be able to use rental e-scooters as part of a trial by the West of England Combined Authority.

E-scooter riders | Photo © Voi Technology
Following the launch of the West of England e-scooter trial, the area for the ‘hop-on hop-off’ e-scooters is expanding from tomorrow, Wednesday 24th March, to include new areas including the Royal United Hospital.
While the lockdown is in place, e-scooter operator Voi Technology is offering free rides to NHS workers, emergency service personnel and the armed forces, providing these key workers with a green and socially distanced alternative to commute to and from work.
Almost 1,600 riders have so far used the “Voi 4 Heroes” scheme, making a total of more than 21,500 rides.
Since the launch of the West of England e-scooter trial in October 2020, there have been over 225,000 rides taken and almost 615,000 miles travelled.
Mayor of the West of England Tim Bowles said: “The West of England has really embraced our e-scooter trial and I’m pleased that many more people will now have a chance to benefit from this low-carbon alternative to the car for short journeys to access essential work and services.
“I’ve been particularly keen to expand the trial to include hospitals in the region. This means that more NHS staff have access to this new green form of transport and can take advantage during lockdown of the Voi for Heroes scheme that gives free rides to NHS workers.
“E-scooters are part of our transport plans for the region alongside metrobus, MetroWest rail network and plans for regional mass transit, to make it easier to get to the jobs and training opportunities that will secure our recovery.”
Councillor Dine Romero, Leader of Bath & North East Somerset Council, added: “The E-scooters have proved to be a popular mode of travel in Bath, offering a more sustainable way to get around and I’m pleased to see the trial expanded to Weston.
“We’re working hard to create better connected, healthier communities by improving transport and the e-scooters provide a greener, cleaner option for residents.”
Richard Corbett, Regional General Manager of UK, Ireland and Benelux for Voi, said: “E-scooters offer a flexible, accessible, outdoors and socially-distanced mode of transport, particularly useful for short journeys from 1-3 miles.
“We have seen thousands of residents in the region using them for their essential journeys. As we expand into new areas, we will continue to work closely with the West of England Combined Authority to ensure the safety and success of the trial.”
E-scooters are available to unlock for £0.99 and cost 14p per minute. There are also various discounts available and passes for students, key workers, and those on low-incomes.
To unlock an e-scooter, riders download the Voi app, (available for free on iOS and Android) and must be 18 years old or over and have a valid UK driving licence (full or provisional).