Scoot Safe, say Mayor and Police & Crime Commissioner

A new safety campaign has been launched in the West by the region’s Mayor and Police & Crime Commissioner.

‘Scoot Safe’ is aimed at highlighting that people should ride responsibly and do the right thing on our roads, and thanks everyone who does already.

The West of England e-scooter 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. Almost 10,000 rides are being taken daily through the trial by people getting to work, the shops or connecting to the wider bus and train network across the region.

Helen Godwin, the Mayor of the West of England, said:

“We know how handy e-bikes and e-scooters are for some people to get around our towns and cities, and that most people ride responsibly. The number of rides across our region so far shows that it’s an important part of our transport mix. But lots of people have valid concerns.

“Convenient travel for some people shouldn’t inconvenience others. Scoot Safe, which will roll out over the coming weeks, emphasises the need for responsible riding and parking to help people to keep themselves – and others – safe.

“Enhanced enforcement from Dott will mean people are kicked off the app when more than one person rides on an e-scooter, alongside new fines for poor parking, and easier ways for people to report issues. All of this will strike a better balance, with more marked parking zones for e-bikes and e-scooters making our pavements tidier for everyone, including Disabled people.”

Clare Moody, the Avon & Somerset Police & Crime Commissioner (PCC), said:

“E-scooters can be a convenient way to travel but must be used legally and responsibly. When they’re not, they cause real problems – they put pedestrians at risk, create hazards for people with mobility issues and families with young children, and even endanger the riders themselves.

“Remember: only Dott hire scooters are legal on our roads. If you see irresponsible use of hire scooters, report it to Dott, and information about illegal private e-scooters should be reported to the police or Crimestoppers.

“The Scoot Safe campaign is about making sure everyone can use our streets safely and making sure unsafe riding has consequences.”

The pair aim to highlight several common issues that need to be tackled, saying in a new video to launch the Scoot Safe campaign:

• “Tandem riding (two people or more on a scooter at once) has always been banned. Now, it’s one strike and you’re out.
• “The same is true for letting anyone else use your licence to scoot.
• “Riding under the influence of drink or drugs is illegal. You could lose your driving licence and face prison time.
• “Abandoning a vehicle outside of a designated parking zone will mean a fine.”

Iqbal Ahmed, Head of Public Policy UK/Ireland at Dott, added:

“Our partnership with the Mayoral Combined Authority has been keen to the success of the e-scooter and e-bike trial in the West of England. While the vast majority of our riders use our service responsibly, we are expanding our efforts to ensure all our riders follow the rules and use our service safely. Campaigns like Scoot Safe play an important role in our efforts to continuously educate users. Our mission is to rethink urban mobility in a way that’s sustainable and convenient, but always with respect for the safety and needs of both riders and non-riders alike.”

Hiring via Dott is the only way people can legally ride an e-scooter on public roads. Riders must be aged 18 or over and have at least a provisional driving licence. When renting an e-scooter, a rider is bound by the Highway Code, the same as all road users.

All of Dott’s vehicles are GPS-connected and equipped with registration plates, giving riders a safe and reliable experience while also making sure misuse can be quickly identified. To support communities, Dott has now made it easier for residents to report concerns through a simple online form or by phone (0800 048 8993).

Dott’s 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, which automatically reduce the vehicle’s speed in some areas.

Avon & Somerset Police continue to tackle illegal e-bikes and e-scooters through regular operations by local Beat teams who seize the vehicles which are then destroyed. Non-Dott e-bikes are only legal if they have pedals that can be used to propel them and the electric motor does not enable the e-bike to travel at more than 15.5 miles per hour. 

The Mayoral Combined Authority is working with local councils to install more marked parking bays to help keep things tidy, with new cycle lanes set to mean fewer e-bikes and e-scooters on roads and pavements.

Scoot Safe has kicked off with today’s video ahead of a new trial area for e-bikes and e-scooters launching in Yate and Chipping Sodbury on Friday, with the support of South Gloucestershire Council. This comes after June’s expansion into Lyde Green, Cadbury Heath, Longwell Green, Oldland Common, and Warmley. Coalpit Heath, Frampton Cotterell, and Winterbourne followed in July.

A pop-up event is being held outside the Armadillo, next to Yate Active Lifestyle Centre, between 1pm and 4pm on Friday, 22 August. New riders will be able to learn more about signing up to use the Dott e-scooters as well as test ride in a supervised area.

Press release by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority