Sunderland’s e-scooter rental trial begins

Sunderland’s e-scooter rental trial has begun, with the first of 300 e-scooters being deployed across the city.

The 12-month trial, operated by Neuron Mobility in partnership with the City Council, aims to provide the city with a safe, socially distanced and environmentally-friendly transport option for those that must travel.

To kick off the trial, and to respond to COVID-19, Neuron is providing free monthly passes to NHS and emergency services staff, redeemable through the rates and passes section of the Neuron app.

During the first three months, the company will also offer free rides for commuters between 5am to 9am every weekday. As the COVID-19 situation improves there will also be more offers, such as for university students and people on lower incomes.

This follows the Newcastle launch, meaning e-scooter fleets are now available at both ends of the Tyne and Wear Metro. Leisure travellers and commuters travelling between the two cities will be able to take advantage of this sustainable travel option to complement their journey at both ends.

The e-scooters are GPS-enabled and Neuron and the City Council will use Geofencing technology to control where they are ridden and parked, and how fast they can travel in certain areas by creating slow zones, no-ride zones and no-parking zones. Each e-scooter will be fitted with a unique license plate for easy identification and to promote responsible use.