Slough has begun trials of e-scooters in a bid to promote zero emissions travel.
The town is one of 13 locations taking part in trials approved by the Department for Transport in which the the new electric vehicles can legally be ridden on roads including bus lanes.
The council is working with Neuron Mobility which is providing 250 e-scooters to rent and 25 staff to co-ordinate the year-long trial.
Sixty ‘stations’ have been established where the scooters can be picked up or parked using a QR code.
For single trips it will cost £1 to unlock the scooter and 18p per minute thereafter. Frequent users can buy Neuron passes for three days a week for £15, weekly passes for £22 or monthly for £36.
A 10-minute trip from Slough station to Telefonica O2 in Slough Trading Estate, would cost around £3 while a trip to Wexham Park Hospital from the station would take around 15 minutes and cost around £3.50.
The scooters have a top speed of 15.5mph for experienced riders and 9mph for beginners. Each scooter is fitted with a licence plate.
Cllr Rob Anderson, cabinet member for sustainable transport and the environment, said: “Riding a Neuron e-scooter was easy to get the hang of and I can see how practical they can be as an alternative mode of transport.
“Not only can they now be ridden on Slough’s roads as part of the trial but along the bus lanes to make travelling around even easier. They are only allowed on the roads, with penalties when they are ridden on pavements.”
Riders have to be 18 or over and hold a provisional or full driving licence to be eligible and third party insurance is included in the hire price. During the trial, they can be ridden on roads, in bus lanes and on on-road cycle lanes but not on pavements or pavement cycle lanes.
Image shows Cllr Anderson getting on his e-scooter.
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