Yate and Chipping Sodbury e-scooter trial
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E-scooter and e-bike hire in the West of England
The West of England e-scooter trial is one of the largest and most successful in the UK and Europe, with over 2,500 scooters and more than 1000 e-bikes available. Hiring an e-scooter or e-bike is a great way to travel to work, the shops, or connect to the wider transport network by bus or train.
The bikes and scooters are part of a national government trial, which has been recently extended until May 2028.
A new trial zone in Yate and Chipping Sodbury
People have been able to hire e-scooters and e-bikes in parts of South Gloucestershire since the start of the trial, and recently the main operating zone has been extended into areas such as Lyde Green, Longwell Green and Winterbourne.
The Mayoral Combined Authority and South Gloucestershire Council are now collaborating on a new zone covering most of Yate and Chipping Sodbury. Over the next 6 months, the trial will be looking at how well they suit the needs of people in the area to make convenient local journeys, as well as consider any issues arising from their use. Privately-owned e-scooters remain illegal, except on private land and with the landowner’s permission.
For the safety of riders and pedestrians, some places are designated as ‘no-ride’ areas for e-scooters. They will not allow the vehicle to be used and ‘slow-ride’ mode will kick in to reduce the speed.
After 6 months, we will decide the future of the trial based on how successful it has been. You can also let us know what you think of the scheme, either as a user or non-user by taking part in our online survey.
You can also find more information in our FAQs at the bottom of this page.
Information for new users
The operator for the trial in the West of England is Dott. Both e-scooters and e-bikes are hired using the Dott smartphone app. The minimum age to hire an e-bike is 16. To ride an e-scooter, users must be 18 or over and have at least a provisional driving licence, which must be scanned in the app.
Hire options are available for both the occasional and the regular rider, with pay per ride or subscriptions available depending on how often you intend to ride. For details of prices and see which option would work best for you, visit our main info page.
Dott also offer a range of discounts up to 80% for certain groups, including NHS staff and Blue Light Card Holders, students and apprentices, jobseekers and those on income support. Refugees and asylum seekers can also apply.
To see if you qualify, the discounts available and what you need to provide visit our dedicated page.
Staying safe
Driving licence scanning technology with selfie verification is used on sign up. When renting an e-scooter, a rider is bound by the same rules as if driving a car – failing to do so could add points to your driving licence.
E-scooters can be used on roads, cycle lanes, shared use paths and other areas where cycling is allowed but not on pavements. There are also designated ‘slow ride’ and ‘no ride’ zones managed by the on-board GPS. We have worked closely with South Gloucestershire Council and Dott to regulate these areas for e-scooter usage, as well as to establish designated parking zones.
All e-scooters are GPS-connected and equipped with registration plates so any misuse can be reported and investigated. The operator will warn and educate riders or in certain circumstances may impose penalties or suspend accounts.
Top tips for a safe e-scooter ride
- Never ride on pavements. Only ride on roads, cycle paths and shared-use paths.
- A helmet isn’t compulsory, but it’s safer to wear one.
- Never drink and ride or use a phone while riding – the laws are the same as driving a car.
- Always ride solo, never ride with more than one person on the e-scooter.
- Only account holders can ride an e-scooter. Never hire one out for someone else.
FAQs
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There will be around 90 e-scooters and 30 e-bikes available.
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Parking places are carefully chosen in areas with a wide pavement. In-person visits are made to ensure there is sufficient clear space, and parked vehicles don’t cause an obstruction or block access to critical services. Every proposed location is reviewed by South Gloucestershire Council before being confirmed to the operator.
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E-scooters must be parked neatly in the designated parking bays displayed in the app. Users are instructed on where to leave e-scooters so that they don’t cause an obstruction. Parking incorrectly can result in a fine and repeat offenders could be banned. The operator also uses a team of ‘rangers’, who re-distribute e-scooters regularly and check parking bays for tidiness. As part of our trial process, we will review the location of parking bays and should any prove particularly problematic they will be reconsidered.
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You can report issues directly to the operator using their online form
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E-scooters and e-bikes can be ridden to and from a wide range of locations across the operating area. Yate and Chipping Sodbury are connected to the main operating area via the A432 through Coalpit Heath and Winterbourne.
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It is our aim to ensure as many people as possible have access to sustainable transport. E-scooters and e-bikes are helpful to a large number of people without access to a car or bicycle. They also work alongside existing public transport to improve links to work or further education.
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Based on the evidence that has been gathered so far, using an e-scooter is no more likely to cause harm than cycling. Recent Bristol University research, published in the Journal of Injury Prevention indicates that where e-scooters are well used alongside cycling, overall accident rates for riders fell by about 20%.
