The Week

England’s e-scooter fleet broke through the 2,000 unit mark this week, and growth looks set to continue exponentially as operators successfully navigate careful introductory phases. We released our first conference podcast, featuring transport execs from the West Midlands, Milton Keynes and Northamptonshire. Elsewhere, HumanForest’s electric bike-share operation plans to shake things up (and you can buy into the company), Bird brings its free rides programme to Redditch and Voi teams up with intelligent helmets.

It might be the week of Halloween, Guy Fawkes and National Lockdown Returns, but that hasn’t stopped e-scooter companies giving back like it’s Christmas. Lime, Voi and Zwings all announced free rides or massive discounts, while Bird’s new helmet selfie checker awards money off future trips.
And, lest we forget the very serious global conditions that micromobility is trying to tackle – that is, climate change and air pollution – Elliot Colburn MP kicked off Zag’s new opinion section with a suitably bracing call-to-arms (and a gentle hint about how dockless systems may fare in London).

More e-scooter trials announced and online, more operators with wheels on the ground, more detailed Zag test-rides and tech deep-dives and a brand new e-scooter conference with a panel of international experts: it’s all go for micromobility in the UK. Blink and you’ll miss it.

As well as tons of news about e-scooter launches and programmes in the works, we explain who’s insuring whom when it comes to e-scooters; pinpoint 10 historic hidden-gem low-traffic neighbourhoods; take a Beryl e-scooter for a lovely little test-ride in Norwich; and gleefully shoehorn in multiple Partridge and Beatles references. OH – and an update on a London e-scooter trial.