100,000 Spin e-scooter rides taken in Essex since trials launched

Spin e-scooter riders in Essex have taken more than 100,000 rides since the trials launched.

Each trial has started on a small-scale and is constantly evaluated in collaboration with Essex County Council (ECC) and local authorities and is driven by demand.

Spin manages per-minute hire schemes in Basildon, Chelmsford, Clacton-on-Sea, Colchester and a slightly different scheme called Spin+ in Brentwood and Braintree where customers can hire an e-scooter longer term and have sole access to it 24/7.

Rider data confirms that Spin e-scooters are used for short journeys, on average 3km in distance and 23 minutes in length, which is in line with one of the overall objectives of the scheme.

Almost half of the rides (46,600) have taken place in Basildon, Spin’s first Essex location to launch five months ago, but Colchester is catching up fast (27,500 rides) where Spin launched less than three months ago, followed by Chelmsford (21,000) and Clacton-on-Sea (6,900).

As part of its commitment to safe riding, Spin has also begun a series of its Spin Safe in-person training events across Essex to educate riders on how to safely ride an e-scooter while respecting all road users, including the vulnerable. So far 150 people have taken part in sold-out Spin Safe events in Basildon and Chelmsford and hundreds more will have the opportunity to participate in the coming months in other locations (Brentwood on 14th-15th May, Clacton-on-Sea on 22nd-23rd May and Colchester 3th-5th June).

Whilst wearing a helmet is not legally required, Spin has given away more than 700 free helmets to Essex riders and has committed to giving away thousands of more at its training events. Spin’s vehicle speed has recently been reduced to 12.5 MPH from 15.5 MPH to further ensure safety, while in slow-ride zones speed is restricted to 10 MPH.

Steve Pyer, UK country manager at Spin, said: “The pace of e-scooter adoption in Essex represents an exciting shift to more sustainable transport in line with the council’s Safer Greener Healthier campaign. Now that lockdown restrictions are easing, we’re seeing more people use our e-scooters for short journeys to get them to key destinations across the region and reduce the number of short car journeys across Essex.

“Safety remains our top priority and we’re continuing to educate riders and the wider community about how to ride and park our free-floating e-scooters safely. We do this through a wide range of activities including digital campaigns, in-app notifications, in-person training events, free helmet giveaways. As well as partnerships with London Vision, the sight-loss charity, RoSPA, the road safety organisation and the Sensory Action Alliance, supporting those with sight or hearing loss.”