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Micromobility operator Voi has quadrupled its area of operation in the city of bath.
Having initially only covered two square miles in the compact city in the South West of England, Voi will now cover eight square miles, making it easier for people to adopt rental e-scooters as their chosen mode of transport.
The expansion will be rolled out in two phases, the first of which started on 10th June and covers six square miles, including the East Twerton, Oldfield Park, Bear Flat, Bathampton, and Batheaston areas.
An upcoming second phase in July will expand Voi scooter coverage south of the city centre, to cover Southdown and Combe Down.
Since the scheme was launched in October 2020, more than a quarter of a million rides were taken on Voi scooters, helping prevent more than 70,000 unnecessary short car journeys and saving an estimated 30 tonnes of CO2 from entering the atmosphere.
Sam Pooke, Voi’s senior public policy manager for UK and Ireland, said: “We are delighted Bath and North East Somerset Council has decided to expand our operating area. Their decision is a vote of confidence in what Voi has continued to deliver since launching the scheme in 2020 – a safe, reliable, affordable, and overwhelmingly popular service for all. With more e-scooters on the ground and more opportunities to take advantage of Voi as a sustainable alternative service for getting across the city, Bath is always one ride closer to improving air quality, tackling congestion and most importantly, creating a better city for living.”
Voi says it hopes the move will mean more people can take advantage of e-scooters and the various discounts it offers, including to those on low incomes, NHS works, and students.
People from low-income groups are eligible to receive more than 80% off their rides via Voi-4-All discounts, which means those illegible could travel around for as little as £1.22 a day or just £8.75 per month with Voi’s daily and monthly passes.
Councillor Matt McCabe, Bath and North East Somerset cabinet assistant for sustainable transport, said: “The purpose of including the whole city in these final months of the trial is to see whether e-scooters can reduce the number of short car journeys in Bath. The government has announced that it will bring forward legislation to legalise e-scooters later this year, so this is the last chance for residents to experience them in a controlled manner. Voi is ready to deal with any issues regarding the scooters, where they are parked, and how they are ridden.”
