31.2 C
Accra
Wednesday, March 11, 2026
HomeTechnologyE-scooter trial put on hold in Coventry five days after rollout

E-scooter trial put on hold in Coventry five days after rollout

Date:

A 12-month trial of e-scooters has been paused five days into the scheme due to people riding them on pavements.

Coventry City Council has raised safety concerns amid reports they were being used in pedestrianised areas – against guidelines.

Some residents also complained about them being discarded across the city and people going the wrong way.

The authority made the decision to put the trial on hold while it reviews how e-scooters can be used “appropriately”.

The 200 e-scooters were deployed in Coventry and Birmingham, in the UK’s biggest trial of its kind, on Thursday.

Sarah Gayton, a campaigner for the National Federation for the Blind, said she is relieved by the council’s action but wants the e-scooters to “disappear from the UK”.

“I was absolutely shocked to see riders going on the pavement, whizzing around, going the wrong way, scooters discarded all over the city centre,” she said.

Residents Emma Ward and Ricky Canley ltold the BBC they had seen the e-scooters “abandoned absolutely everywhere”.

Ms Ward said more thought needs to be given to how people travel around the city before they can work in Coventry while Mr Canley branded them “hell on two wheels”.

Although some electric scooters can exceed 30mph (48.3km/h), the ones unveiled by Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) last week are limited to 15.5mph (24.9km/h).

TfWM said they are allowed on any 30mph or less road and a reduced speed limit of 5mph would be applicable in pedestrianised areas.

In the first few days of the trial, the authority said the e-scooters, provided by Swedish company Voi, has been “extremely popular” with more than 5,000 rides being taken in the city.

“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,” the spokesperson added.

A Voi spokesperson said they regretted the decision to pause its service in Coventry but the company was “looking forward to resuming the service with enhanced measures in place to address the early observations from the trial”.

The e-scooter trial is still operating in Birmingham and is due to be rolled out elsewhere across the region in the coming months.

- Sponsored -spot_imgspot_img

Disclaimer: The views, opinions, comments, and statements expressed by readers and contributors on this platform are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Imax Media Group or its affiliates.

Send your news stories to editor@max.com.gh and via WhatsApp on +233 506-367-196
Join our WhatsApp channel for the latest news and updates.

Max TV
Max TVhttps://max.com.gh
Ghana’s Leading Digital Television And Terrestrial Box In Sports, Entertainment And More.
- Sponsored -scratch for win

Stay Connected

562,687FansLike
2,463FollowersFollow
583,200FollowersFollow
51,019FollowersFollow
95,943SubscribersSubscribe

Latest stories

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Related Stories

Marriage Doesn’t Work — Timaya declares

Nigerian singer, Timaya, has shared his opinion on having...

GES Sends Stern Warning to Teachers

Accra -- The Ghana Education Service (GES) has cautioned...

Counsellor Lutterodt Appears Before Court TODAY!

Accra -- Popular marriage counsellor, Cyril George Carstensen Lutterodt,...

Dong Bortey Defends Didi; Slams Misfiring Strikers

Accra -- The celebrated legend of Accra Hearts Oak,...

Congolese FA President Mayolas Receive Life Sentence for Corruption

Brazzavile -- On Tuesday, March 10, Jean-Guy Blaise Mayolas,...

Fatawu Scores As Leicester End 10-match Winless Run

Leicester --- Leicester City moved out of the relegation...

Kinsky Endures Worst Champions League Debut

Madrid -- Tottenham replaced goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky in the...

Sports Journalist Francis Agboyibor calls on GFA Disciplinary Committee to rduce ban on Hohoe United

Ghana Premier League expert and journalist Francis Agboyibor has...

Showboy Denied Bail!

Adenta -- It appears trouble seems to always find...

Chukwumeka to Face Ghana After Nationality Switch

Vienna -- Carney Chukwumeka is set to face the...