More marked bays, better parking – and Dott’s Yate rental trial extended
A trial of rental e-bikes and e-scooters in Yate and Chipping Sodbury is set to be extended until September.
The two-town trial, which started on 22 August, recorded more than 3,500 journeys in its first three months. This promising early uptake has prompted an extension, enabling the trial to run through the spring and summer months when demand is typically higher. The additional data will support a full evaluation of how local people are using the service.
In the meantime, the launch of Scoot Safe last summer by the regional Mayor and the Police and Crime Commissioner has played a key role in improving safety, with substantial progress in tackling poor parking and related issues across the region.
Since September, 52 additional marked parking bays have been installed across the West of England — a 260% increase — helping make pavements clearer and more accessible. Further locations are being looked at for the coming year, with funding available.
The £10 and £15 penalties introduced through Scoot Safe for leaving an e-bike or e-scooter outside a designated bay has already proven effective in tidying up parking of the rental vehicles. BetweenSeptember and the end of January, over 16,000 fineswere issued. Last month, more than 99% of all Dott journeys in the West finished in a proper parking place – verified with in-app photos – meaning that irresponsible parking has more than halved since the summer.
Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, said:
“More people have more travel choices to get around the West as a result of the expanded trial, including in South Gloucestershire and the south of Bath. I want to once again thank everyone who is doing the right thing on our roads, however they travel.
“We have already made progress in striking a better balance through our Scoot Safe campaign, tackling valid concerns about e-bike and e-scooter parking and riding. The fines that we have introduced are making a real difference and have made our streets tidier, which is particularly good news for Disabled people.”
Iqbal Ahmed, Head of Public Policy UK & Ireland at Dott, said:
“We are delighted that the promising start in Yate and Chipping Sodbury has led to the trial’s extension. It is clear there is a strong local appetite for our e-bikes and e-scooters as a convenient, low-carbon way to travel. The significant increase in responsible parking, thanks to the collective efforts and the new penalty system, proves that shared micromobility can work well within local communities.
“We look forward to gathering more data through the busier spring and summer months to support the long-term success of the West of England trial, which is already a leader in the UK.”
Councillor Chris Willmore, South Gloucestershire Council’s Cabinet Member for Planning, Regeneration and Infrastructure, said:
“The promising uptake of e-bikes and e-scooters in Yate and Chipping Sodbury since joining the trial shows there is real appetite for convenient, affordable, low-carbon alternatives to the car. The trial is now being extended through to the end of summer, and there will be a full evaluation of all the data before any final decisions are taken.
“I’m pleased to see some of the concerns and issues have already been addressed and that the new measures in place have helped significantly reduce the number of scooters blocking pavements and access. We will continue listening to feedback from residents throughout the trial to ensure the scheme is safe, accessible and works well for our area.”
The West of England trial, run by Dott, is one of the largest and most successful in the UK and Europe, with over 1,500 e-bikes and 2,500 e-scooters in the network. In December, the expansion into new areas of south Bath helped to deliver the highest-ever daily and weekly rental numbers in the city.
More details about the Yate and Chipping Sodbury trial can be found on www.travelWEST.info/yate-sodbury-trial
Original press release by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority.
