Have your say on 200 proposed new e-scooter and e-bike parking bays
Residents across Bristol are being asked for their views on the locations of up to 200 new marked e-scooter and e-bike parking bays, following additional funding from the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority.
The proposed roll-out follows the introduction of 55 bays earlier this year. Around a third of the proposed locations will replace existing virtual parking, with the rest being completely new parking places. A substantial number of the bays planned will also be placed on the road rather than on pavements and footpaths, helping to keep walking routes clear and accessible for pedestrians.
The proposals form a key part of the council’s wider transport strategy, which includes investment in walking, cycling and public transport infrastructure, alongside measures to reduce congestion and carbon emissions. Together, these initiatives aim to create a safer, healthier and better-connected city.
Funding for bays comes after the West of England previously secured over half a billion pounds through the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS), which is being used to improve sustainable travel with various projects across the region. Over 36,000 fines for poor parking have been issued as part of Scoot Safe, helping reduce poor parking from 2.4% of journeys to just 0.7% in the space of a year. In the same period, more than 50 marked e-bike and e-scooter bays have been installed in the West of England.
Ed Plowden, Chair of the Transport and Connectivity Committee, said: “E-scooters and e-bikes provide a convenient, affordable and low-carbon option for travelling in and around Bristol. As demand for these services continues to grow, it’s important we have the infrastructure in place to support them.
“Thanks to additional funding from the Combined Authority, we’ve been able to identify around 200 potential new parking bay locations across the city. Before these are finalised, we want to hear from people about any site-specific issues we may need to consider.
“Poor parking has understandably been a source of frustration for many residents, especially on our pavements. By focusing this next phase on dedicated on-street parking bays, we can reduce pavement clutter and make it easier for people to ride and park responsibly.
“I encourage everyone to provide their feedback to ensure these new spaces work as well as possible for the communities they will serve.”
Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England said:
“Since the launch of my Scoot Safe campaign with Police & Crime Commissioner Clare Moody last year, we have been working closely with the operator and local councils across our region to continue addressing longstanding concerns. The introduction of parking fines, in combination with the installation of marked parking bays, has had a significant impact on user behaviour. More than 99% of all journeys through the trial scheme now finish with parking in the correct place, which is a step change from the scheme I inherited.
“Our regional funding should further promote responsible parking and help keep making our pavements tidier for everyone. I would encourage everyone to have their say on the council’s proposals to help them get the balance right with the spread of locations and any on-road parking changes.”
Residents can share their views on the proposals by emailing [email protected] before 11pm on 31 October. An online map showing the parking bay locations is also available for those wanting a more detailed view of the proposed sites.
