Decision details

Cabinet received a report which sought approval for Buckinghamshire Council to extend the current e-scooter rental trial schemes in Aylesbury, High Wycombe and Princes Risborough. This would extend the trial period from November 2022 to May 2024.

The continuation of the e-scooter trials would support the Council’s ambitions to be a ‘living lab’ for innovation. The scheme would also support the Council’s Climate Change and Air Quality Strategy by promoting sustainable low-carbon transport alternatives for shorter trips.  The e-scooter trial was managed at zero cost to the Council as they were run as a private business by an operator.

The e-scooter trial was facilitated by the Department for Transport and the Council was therefore required to inform Department for Transport of its decision by 31 October 2022.

There had been over 191,000 rides in Buckinghamshire since the trials began in 2020.  In contrast, there had been only four reported health and safety incidents across the Buckinghamshire schemes, equating to 0.002% of all rides.  However, it was acknowledged that a handful of these incidents had received media attention, which had resulted in mixed opinions on the safety of e-scooters.

The extension of the trial would enable the Department for Transport to gather additional usage data post-COVID, which would provide a better understanding of ‘normal’ use patterns.  The extension would also allow the Department for Transport  time to finalise legislation making all e-scooters road-legal, whether privately owned or part of a hire scheme.

Subject to agreement to extend the e-scooter trial, the Council would continue using Zipp Mobility as its preferred operator for e-scooters. The Council continued to have a good relationship with this supplier, and they had proven fundamental to the success of the trial schemes so far. This scheme was zero cost to the Council financially. Due to the overall value of this concession contract, the intention was to use a waiver to extend the contract which was already in place with Zipp to May 2024.  

RESOLVED –

That it be AGREED to extend the end date for the e-scooter trials taking place in Aylesbury, High Wycombe and Princes Risborough until May 2024, as part of the national trial.