Latest news with #Voi
Times
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Times
Green light for thousands more e-scooters on England's streets
Tens of thousands of extra e-scooters are set to arrive on English streets after ministers gave the green light to expand city and town rental schemes. Under updated guidance from the Department for Transport (DfT), new local authorities can apply to have e-scooters run by companies such as Lime, Voi or Dott in their area. It is the first time since the pandemic that new areas have been able to apply for e-scooters. Many are expected to do so and industry figures are in discussions with at least 12 councils, including big cities such as Manchester, Brighton, Leeds and Sheffield. At present there are 18 areas across England that operate e-scooter rental schemes on a trial basis, including London, Newcastle and Birmingham, but the scheme has been frozen for new applicants until now. It has proven controversial in some areas. Critics say rental e-scooters and e-bikes litter pavements and are dangerous for users and pedestrians. In July Dame Joan Collins, the actress, said there had been an 'invasion' of e-bikes and e-scooters in London, which was destroying the capital. The rental schemes have certain universal rules, such as a cap on speeds and scooter safety standards, but it is up to individual local authorities to decide regulations on parking or specific areas where users can ride. The changes by the DfT extend the e-scooter rental trial period to at least 2028 while the government gathers evidence on how best to regulate them. Any new area applying to be part of the trial must bring in a 'new feature', such as offering helmets to users or variable speed limits. A senior boss at Voi, the UK's largest rental company, said in June that a transport 'revolution' was coming to the UK, although it may 'hurt a little'. The company aims to have a fleet of 50,000 extra e-bikes and e-scooters on the streets within five years. Christina Moe Gjerde, vice-president for northern Europe at Voi, said the extension could allow the company to double the size of its UK business. 'E-scooters have already proven to be safe, sustainable and affordable, and legislation is needed so they can be here long into the future,' she said. 'We have seen some of the highest utilised schemes in Europe in the UK but growth is falling behind what we are seeing in other markets and part of this is the regulation not allowing for schemes to further grow.' Lime hailed the extension of the e-scooter trial as 'great news'. At present only e-scooters rented through official trials are legal on UK roads but retailers have been selling private devices for years and their popularity has exploded since the pandemic. Police have been accused of largely turning a blind eye to their use. However, in recent years some police forces have stepped up efforts to tackle the problem of e-scooters being used illegally. Since the City of London launched its cycle response unit in 2023, the team have seized and destroyed almost 600 e-bikes and e-scooters, up until June. • What are the police doing about dangerous e-scooter riders? Ministers are said to be acutely aware of the need to find a permanent solution to rules around e-scooters and to bring to an end the patchwork of trials. Transport ministers would like to put forward a bill in the next King's speech to update the law to reflect new modes of transport. It could include changing the way private rental companies are regulated and also make private e-scooters legal for the first time. Under planned laws that would enable private devices to be legalised, riders could be forced to display licence plates and take out insurance. It is believed that such measures would help police clamp down on antisocial behaviour linked to the scooters. The DfT said: 'Safety is at the heart of all e-scooter trials and riding a privately owned e-scooter on public land remains illegal. We are extending trials to deepen our understanding of e-scooter safety as we move towards legislating around their use, to better crack down on nuisance and antisocial use.'
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Council offering asylum seekers 50% off e-bike and e-scooter rentals as Labour leader brags about 'win-win deal'
A London council is offering asylum seekers 50 per cent discounts on renting e-scooters and e-bikes. Wandsworth council's Labour leader Simon Hogg has described the new deal with private firms Lime, Forest and Voi as 'win-win'. The south-west London local authority has published new details about what it calls an 'Access For All' agreement aimed at making the cycles 'fair, safe and affordable'. Eligible residents are described as people in receipt of benefits, children in receipt of free school meals (all ages), asylum seekers/refugees, and children who are 'looked after' or care leavers. MailOnline has asked all involved how the discounts are being financed. This latest scheme comes amid recent revelations about how asylum seekers are using taxpayer handouts to fund their gambling habits. Pre-paid cards given out to pay for basics including food and clothing are being used in gambling venues such as bookmakers, amusement arcades and even casinos, Home Office data shows. In the last year, up to 6,537 asylum seekers have used the government-issued cards at least once for gambling. In the new announcement about its e-bike scheme, Wandsworth Council declared it was 'rolling ahead with its active travel ambitions by working with Lime, Forest and Voi to support e-bikes and e-scooters as a sustainable mode of travel'. In the 12 months from May 2024 to May 2025, there were 6.8million trips made by rented e-bike in Wandsworth. The authority said: 'We're backing that demand by making journeys safer and more accessible for everyone. Jenny Yates, Cabinet Member for Transport, said: 'E-bikes are here to stay as a key part of Wandsworth's transport network. 'We are committed to sustainable travel but it must be done responsibly, so we have worked with Lime, Forest and Voi to make sure e-bikes and scooters work for Wandsworth.' And council leader Mr Hogg, whose party won control of Wandsworth from the Conservatives in 2022, said: 'This deal is a win-win. 'It's about opening up affordable, sustainable travel that helps our residents to access work and entertainment opportunities across the borough. 'We're proud that Lime, Forest and Voi have agreed to join Access for All and to operate respectfully and safely. The new agreement has been announced in Wandsworth, a borough just south of the Thames 'We are making sure that no one is priced out of healthy and sustainable travel.' The scheme also offers discounts for eligible residents towards 'key services from gym sessions to swimming lessons, wedding ceremonies to event tickets'. The latest council announcement on its e-bike scheme also tells of having installed 170 dedicated on-street parking bays for e-bikes and scooters while also creating 'strict no-parking zones in town centres'. Wandsworth council added: 'We're planning further parking bays. The Lime and Voi e-scooters follow strict safety standards, including speed caps, always-on lights and licence checks for e-scooter riders.'
The Guardian
21-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Guardian
Voi and Lime ‘in limbo' as UK trials of e-scooter rentals extended again
Trials of public e-scooter rental schemes have been extended again until 2028, leaving e-scooter firms and users in the UK 'in limbo' for an extraordinary eight years of indecision. Since the authorised schemes started in 2020, several UK operations have folded, including those of the now-merged Tier and Dott, while about 1m illegal e-scooters are estimated to have taken to the streets. The biggest e-scooter operator, Voi, and its rival Lime welcomed the extension but urged the government to bring forward legislation. Voi said the latest trial period 'had to be the last', adding that the uncertainty was damaging investment. The trials of e-scooters had been due to end in May next year, after originally being launched in August 2020 to run for just 15 months. The Department for Transport said the trials would now be extended until May 2028 'to help fill evidence gaps and gather new learning around e-scooter safety, the impact of local area characteristics and how e-scooters contribute to meeting new government missions'. New cities and regions will also be able to apply to join the trials. According to the parliamentary safety body PACTS, data on e-scooter accidents is widely underreported. While public legal rental schemes are regarded as relatively safe, with casualty levels on a par with cycling, illegal e-scooters are frequently modified to go much faster than the 15mph limit, and much more dangerous. Although hundreds of cities worldwide have embraced e-scooters, Paris notably has banned them, and Italy last year issued strict controls on riders. Harry Foskin, the public policy manager at Voi, the company that has operated the majority of UK legal e-scooter trips since 2020, said the extension was good news 'because otherwise in nine months we wouldn't have a UK business. But our stance on this is that this has to be the last trial.' He said the company had invested about £100m in schemes in the UK, adding: 'We've had more than 45m safe journeys, in 18 towns and cities across the UK, we've proved that these scooters are a safe, sustainable and affordable way to travel. Being in this limbo has handicapped our ability to further invest in the UK and to bring in new vehicles.' Foskin said that the uncertainty had also deterred cities and planners from integrating e-scooters and micromobility into public transport services. He urged the government to bring forward legislation to make schemes permanent as well clarifying the law around private e-scooters, 'to bring in a level playing field on strict standards that we adhere to on power, weight, speed and batteries', adding: 'We look forward to working with them through the process.' Sign up to Business Today Get set for the working day – we'll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morning after newsletter promotion Hal Stevenson, the director of policy for UK and Ireland at Lime, said the extension would protect jobs and services, but added: 'There remains a clear need for long-term legislation to help deliver business certainty and future investment. Our data shows the trials have been a success and e-scooters can be introduced into UK cities safely. We look forward to working with the Department for Transport to get this done.' A DfT spokesperson said: 'Safety is at the heart of all e-scooter trials and riding a privately owned e-scooter on public land remains illegal. 'We are extending trials to deepen our understanding of e-scooter safety, as we move towards legislating around their use, to better crack down on nuisance and antisocial use.' Labour's last transport secretary, Louise Haigh, in November promised that the government would legislate on e-scooters as it 'was clearly required. It's not good enough that it's been left in this situation for too long.'
Euronews
07-07-2025
- Business
- Euronews
Lime withdraws bikes in Brussels as city cracks down on rides for hire
People trying to rent a bright green electric scooter or bike via the Lime or Uber apps, received the following message on Friday: "Lime is no longer operating in Brussels. The Brussels authorities have forced Lime to suspend service in the city." The largest shared mobility operator, a subsidiary of Uber, was forced to withdraw 6,000 of its battery-powered scooters and bikes from the Belgian capital after the city's government selected just three out of the previous seven such providers to officially operate in Brussels in 2023. It comes as part of an attempt by Brussels to downsize micromobility units in the city from 20,000 to just 8,000. Estonia-based Bolt, the Dutch company Dott and Sweden's Voi will each be allowed to operate 2,500 e-bikes in Brussels, and Bolt and Dott will be permitted to offer 4,000 scooters each for hire. "By limiting the number of operators, we now have a workable and realistic number of shared scooters and shared bicycles in Brussels," Mobility Ministery Elke Van den Brandt of Groen told Euronews. She added that the decision was necessary to ensure the city's public spaces are safe and accessible for all road users. "The oversupply [of electric bikes and scooters] in recent years caused too much nuisance and today the three licensed operators are adhering to the ordinance of the Brussels Government." In addition to the reduced units, official drop zones will also be introduced where users can park the bikes and scooters. Scooter- and bike-sharing operators had also been advocating for stricter regulations in the sector, arguing that the growing number of providers in the city made it increasingly difficult for them to remain viable. Claims of lack of transparency The decision to introduce restrictions on e-bike and scooter services in the Belgian capital had been made in 2023, however Lime and Voi both contested the decision. Belgium's Council of State granted the American and Swedish operators a short reprieve, allowing them to continue operating until the expiration of their license. Lime's license ended on 2 July while Voi's is set to end on 23 August. The three operators selected to stay operational were chosen based on a number of criteria, including compliance with parking regulations and management of public space, safety of other road-users, quality of the vehicles, compliance with Belgium's Highway Code and environmental impact. However, Lime claimed the selection procedure was not transparent and that the Belgian capital did not make a fair analysis of the applications, local media reported. "We believe the selection process was flawed and lacked transparency," Benelux public affairs lead Sofie Staelraeve told local media. Although Lime's operating license has expired, their legal case is still ongoing and the company is still hopeful of a return to the city. In the meantime, the American operator has filed an additional lawsuit against the city, claiming that no interim solution was provided. Lime argues it could face losses of around €1 million per month during the period it is unable to operate. "If Lime wins the legal case, the Brussels Region may be liable for millions of euros in compensation," the company told local media. Scooters operated by Tier, Poppe and Pony already disappeared from the Brussels streets on 1 Feburary. Many road users have been divided on the use of the self-service scooters, as they have been deemed controversial across Europe. While scooters offer a more eco-friendly alternative to petrol-powered cars and help reduce traffic congestion in busy cities, they have widely faced criticism for contributing to accidents and cluttering public spaces. Several European cities have banned e-scooters. Paris were the first to completely ban them in 2023. Meanwhile, Barcelona, Vienna, and Rome have all tightened rules and imposed additional restrictions.
Forbes
02-07-2025
- Automotive
- Forbes
Finding The Right Balance: Regulating Shared Mobility For Success
In Europe, shared mobility—e-scooters, bikes, car-sharing—is reshaping how people move. As popularity rises and some cities have been quick to implement bans, the key to sustained success is smart regulation that balances safety, equity, and innovation. Paris, Munich, and Milan are leading the way—proving that thoughtful oversight, enabled by data, is the foundation of sustainable shared mobility success. In June 2025, Paris awarded a new shared e‑bike contract to Voi, Dott, and Lime—each permitted to deploy 6,000 e‑bikes—as part of a four-year program beginning October, aimed at building Europe's largest cycle-share scheme. This relaunch follows the 2023 referendum that banned free-floating e‑scooters, streamlining micromobility into a structured, station-based model that supports pedestrian-friendly streets. In addition, the city's public bike share, Vélib', has more than 16,000 bikes across 1,400 stations. Paris has paired micromobility reform with a broader curb transformation strategy—reducing conflicts with pedestrians, promoting green space, and increasing safety. By focusing on contracted operators and designated parking, the city is demonstrating how mobility systems can align with broader climate and livability goals. This picture taken on June 12, 2019 shows Lime-S electric scooters of US transportation company Lime ... More parked in a street of Paris. (Photo by Philippe LOPEZ / AFP) (Photo credit should read PHILIPPE LOPEZ/AFP via Getty Images)Munich's Mobility Strategy 2035 emphasizes shared mobility as part of a car-lite future, with an ambitious goal of moving 400,000 private car trips/ day to shared mobility.. Since 2024, the city has implemented advanced monitoring systems for bikes and e-scooters to enhance equity and manage service quality. At EIT Urban Mobility's 2025 Community Days, Munich unveiled plans for 200 new shared mobility hubs and on-demand services—integrating autonomous shuttles and cargo bikes alongside micromobility. Munich is not experimenting blindly. The city actively evaluates pilot programs—such as shared automated shuttles in off-peak hours—using real-world data to inform policy. The result is a more nimble, scalable approach to regulation that centers public interest and keeps shared mobility efficient, safe, and aligned with overarching goals. Milan is massively scaling its bike-share systems: city-approved operators can now deploy up to 5,000 bikes each, including e-bikes, child-seat bikes, and cargo models—bringing fleets to over 7,200 vehicles. A new scooter operator adds 100 e-scooters to the mix . Last winter, Milan renewed e-scooter and e-bike operator licenses, mandating crowd-management tools like AI-powered parking compliance. Crucially, in March 2024, Milan launched its first city-wide platform for shared mobility data management. This allows real-time insights into usage, parking behavior, and equity—ensuring shared mobility is scalable and supported by evidence. MILAN, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 30: Cyclist ride on a brand new cycle path on Via Monte Rosa on September ... More 30, 2020 in Milan, Italy. Since the end of lockdown Milan authorities have added a further 35 kilometers of pop-up bike lanes and cycle paths and encouraged cycling and riding e-scooters as a safer form of transport away from jam-packed buses or subway trains, in order to promote social distancing in response to COVID-19. (Photo by)These three cities illustrate core principles for balanced regulation: As cities around the world evaluate or expand shared mobility programs, one lesson is increasingly clear: success depends not just on ambition, but on accountability. That means investing in tools to monitor, manage, and modify programs in real time. It means defining expectations clearly for operators—and giving cities the ability to enforce them. Paris prioritizes safety and green space. Munich champions innovation grounded in real-time data. Milan demonstrates how scale can be achieved without sacrificing order. The lesson? Shared mobility can thrive—but only under thoughtful rules that promote equity, safety, and efficiency. Where micromobility meets curbspace, transparency and adaptability are essential. By learning from Paris, Munich, and Milan, cities everywhere can craft policies that amplify the promise of shared transportation while safeguarding public good. This is how shared mobility becomes more than a fad—it becomes the backbone of sustainable urban life.
