THE TRIAL of e-scooters in Coventry has been suspended – just five days after their much vaunted launch.
Coventry City Council say it is ‘pausing’ the trial with operator Voi.
Users were riding the e-scooters on pavements and taking them outside the city centre, the council has said.
In a statement, a spokeswoman for Coventry Council said: “The e-scooters have proved to be extremely popular, with around 5,000 rides being taken in the first few days of operation. However, over the weekend there have been some incidents reported where e-scooters have been used in pedestrianised areas where they are not permitted to be.
“As a result the Council and Voi have taken the decision to pause the scheme in order to review the first few days of the trial and identify ways in which it can re-commence in an appropriate manner.
“It’s right to pause the scheme if concerns are being raised.
“The initial take-up has been encouraging but we need to ensure that the safety of all people using the city centre is protected and that the e-scooters are used in the proper way, hence our decision to pause the pilot until systems are improved.’
A spokesperson for Voi said “While we regret the pause to our service, we reiterate our desire and willingness to work with all local stakeholders to deliver a safe and successful trial that meets the council’s objectives and confirms micromobility as a sustainable, safe and attractive mode for Coventry’s citizens.
“We look forward to resuming the service with enhanced measures in place to address the early observations from the trial”.
