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Tier is offering private e-scooter owners the chance to trade in their vehicles to be recycled or repurposed, in exchange for ride credit with the company.
The operator has launched the scheme to discourage the illegal use of private e-scooters on UK roads, giving private owners the opportunity to enjoy riding e-scooters safely without breaking the law and risking fines.
The scheme will initially be rolled out at the beginning of the year in York, where Tier is running a year-long e-scooter trial. The company will offer to collect e-scooters from private owners and take them away to be recycled with a local recycling partner or repurposed through a charity or social enterprise in another Tier territory where private use is legal, depending on the condition of the vehicle. In exchange, they will be given Tier e-scooter ride credit equal to their vehicle’s value, up to £150, allowing them to use the company’s rental e-scooters dotted around the city.
Tier said it hopes its new exchange scheme can help private e-scooter owners who bought the vehicles to use on public roads before realising that it was illegal to do so. Owners will be asked to show proof of purchase when exchanging their vehicle and will need to pass Tier’s AA Ride Safe School.
“Many people will have bought or received e-scooters for Christmas but not fully realised that it is illegal to ride them on public roads,” said Fred Jones, Tier’s UK general manager. “Unsurprisingly, a huge amount of these vehicles now sit unused in cupboards, sheds and garages, as owners wishing to abide by the law have few places to go and enjoy them.
“We hope that this scheme will give private owners the chance to enjoy riding and finally get their money’s worth. It also means that they’ll get to ride more robust e-scooters with cutting-edge features such as integrated helmets, indicator lights and charging phone holders, making the experience more enjoyable and better protecting pedestrians.”
