E-scooter fanboy so hyped for Teesside to host UK's first trial
- Reference: 1593784811
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2020/07/03/teesside_scooter_trial/
- Source link:
The region has partnered with [1]Ginger – a little-known UK micromobility startup – to deploy more than 100 scooters. The cities named by Houchen to receive the controversial two-wheelers include Darlington, Hartlepool, Stockton, Redcar and Middlesbrough.
Ginger works much like rival platforms, such as Lime and Spin. Riders download an app and use it to unlock scooters by scanning a QR code, while a GPS perimeter ensures users cannot take the vehicles beyond an approved zone. It also demarcates certain areas as "slow zones" where the scooter's maximum speed is automatically reduced.
The service will run with limited hours – between 6am and 10pm — and users will have to park the scooters at specified docking stations. This addresses a major complaint made against other "dockless" micromobility platforms, where scooters are often just dumped in the middle of the pavement.
In a statement, Mayor Houchen said: "I have been a big fan of e-scooters for a very long time, and when the government announced their plans to fast track their introduction, it was obvious that our region should be the first trial area. So, I am thrilled that the UK's first trial on e-scooters on UK roads will take place across Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool.
The Mahor said he was "pleased that by working together [with Ginger] we have been able to make using e-scooters cost effective with the price of a ride competitive with other forms of public transport."
Teesside's trial comes after the Department for Transport [2]relaxed rules on electric scooters earlier this week . These new rules come into effect this weekend, and will run for 12 months unless extended. According to the department, the aim is to determine how electric scooters can reduce the amount of road traffic.
Previously illegal to use anywhere except private land, e-scooters can now be used on public highways and cycle paths, so long as the vehicles were provided by an approved scheme, and the rider holds a UK driving licence (either full or provisional). The wearing of helmets will also be mandatory, and it will remain illegal for individuals to use personally owned electric scooters on public roads.
Of course, as wise Reg readers previously pointed out, a provisional licence doesn't necessarily mean someone knows the rules of the road, particularly when it comes to things like right of way. It merely demonstrates someone is over the age of sixteen and is able to fill out a form.
Also the law in England surrounding organ donations changed to an "opt-out" system, where everyone is considered to have consented unless they've actively said otherwise.
We're sure that's just a coincidence. ®
Get our [3]Tech Resources
[1] https://www.ginger.town/
[2] https://www.theregister.com/2020/07/01/uk_escooter_trials/
[3] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
I suspect with money - fines. They know who you are!
To be fair, that does seem to be working with the TFL London bikes - don't see many of them left lying around. You've handed over some Credit Card details before you could undock it and I assume in the T&Cs you've agreed to return it to a dock or they'll keep billing you or something.
No consistency.
Let's compare e-scooters with "electrically assisted pedal cycles"
e-scooters : must have helmet and insurance (max speed about 20mph)
bike: no need for helmet and insurance. (but max speed 15.5 mph)
Someone isn't thinking this through. But then, booze and tobacco are legal.
Re: No consistency.
I believe the specs are for a max speed of 15mph so match an eBike although of course the latter can go much faster if you pedal.
Re: No consistency.
Escooters will be limited to 15.5mph, the same point that a road legal e-bike stops giving assistance... and e-bikes can continue to be pedalled faster than that.
As far as i can tell, the piece is also wrong on helmets - for neither ebikes or rental escooters are helmets mandatory, but recommended, (and highly recommended for e-scooters), as the smaller wheels can be stopped significantly easier by a small thing on the road than a large bike wheel can, which will typically just ride over it.
Hmm
"Also the law in England surrounding organ donations changed to an "opt-out" system, where everyone is considered to have consented unless they've actively said otherwise.
We're sure that's just a coincidence."
See Faye Kellerman's "Prayers for the Dead"
Scamp, not scooter!
I would never get on one of these maiming machines. I'm just a too old for that crap! Give me 3 wheels and a chair! And a cup holder! For this----->
Toys for the scallies
And good for spare parts but deliberately trashing and scavenging these toys useful providers of ecologically friendly mobility will surely be the last thing on anyone's mind!
users will have to park the scooters at specified docking stations.
How will that be enforced?