By Amelia Shaw, News Deputy Editor
Bristol is set to bid farewell to the bright coral-coloured Voi e-scooters this week, as they are scheduled for a rebrand on the 13th of October, marking a significant transformation in the city's mobility landscape.
Introduced in Bristol back in 2020, the electric scooters have quickly gained popularity, with a University study revealing that last year, there were nearly half as many daily users as there were cyclists on campus.
Several companies competed for the coveted long-term city contract earlier this year, with the German-based company TIER emerging as the winning candidate.
It has been reported by the West of England Combined Authority that the four-year contract will raise £9.4 million pounds and will be reinvested in future transport improvements across the region.
🛴It's all change this Saturday as @tier_mobility begins its rollout of e-scooters across Bristol, with e-bikes and cargo bikes to follow.
— Bristol City Council (@BristolCouncil) October 12, 2023
TIER will initially deploy 2,000 e-scooters across the city from Sat 14 Oct ramping up to 4,000.
Read more: https://t.co/YLkmO7uh9F pic.twitter.com/EfczADC0RY
The scooters are set to undergo a transformation, being replaced by 2000 vibrant green ‘WESTscoot’ alternatives. These will be alongside the anticipated introduction of 1500 new electric bikes across the city.
As a part of their contract, TIER is set to tackle the parking concerns that have been under scrutiny, addressing the persistent issues of inadequate and irresponsible parking, as raised by concerned residents. In response, the company have promised 100 new e-scooter parking racks to ensure that streets are kept tidy and free from possible disruption.
In his statement, Dan Norris, the Metro Mayor of the West of England, emphasized the potential of this transition to support the region's ambitious aim of achieving carbon neutrality by 2030. He stated that as these vehicles become a common and welcome sight across our region, they serve as a vital means for residents to reduce their reliance on cars or even opt to give them up entirely.
This bold move towards greener and more sustainable urban mobility options reflects the city's commitment to reducing its carbon footprint and promoting more eco-friendly modes of transportation across the University and wider city.
Featured image: TIER https://www.tier.app/en/press/weca-e-scooters-go-green
