E-Scooter trial to begin in Newquay

The trial in Cornwall will run alongside the existing Beryl e-bike hire scheme operated in Newquay, Penzance, Falmouth and Penryn and Truro city.

You will be able to hire e-scooters in a number of Cornish towns from this Thursday (June 18) as part of a trial to see if they will be introduced permanently.

Cornwall Council has introduced an experimental traffic regulation order (ETRO) to support the rental e-scooter trial, which allows them to be used within defined areas wherever pedal cycles are currently permitted, unless signed otherwise. This includes roads, cycle lanes and shared-use paths, but not pavements.

The council is inviting residents, businesses, visitors and other road users to share their views and experiences of the trial. The feedback will help the local authority understand how the trial is working in practice and will be considered when deciding whether the arrangements should be made permanent, modified or removed.

The rental e-scooter trial forms part of a programme approved by the Department for Transport (DfT) to better understand how e-scooters can be used as part of the transport network.

The trial provides an opportunity to assess whether they can offer an additional travel option for local journeys, including connections to public transport and other destinations. It will also help the council understand how e-scooters interact with other road users and what impact they may have on travel patterns within the trial areas.

The trial will use the same bays as currently used for e-bikes. Approximately 50 e-scooters will be provided in each of Penzance, Falmouth/Penryn and Newquay with 25 located in Truro.

The e-scooters cost 22p per minute to use with a £1 unlocking fee. This unlocking fee is not charged if users buy minute bundles in advance.

Beryl maintains the e-scooter scheme in its entirety, though local contractors will manage and maintain the e-scooters and e-bikes, bringing direct economic benefits to Cornwall. The only cost to Cornwall Council is staff time and costs associated with making of experimental traffic orders.

Before riding, users will be required to sign up for the scheme with their physical driving licence and through facial recognition on the Beryl app. Upon signing up, there is a two-minute guide to riding the scooters, including how to and where to ride.

The maximum speed of the e-scooters during the trial is 12.5mph. The DfT may review this and increase to 15.5mph in the future.

There will be Go Slow Zones in each town where maximum speeds are 7.5mph. These zones are aligned with pedestrianised areas in each town. There are also No Go Zones which are primarily skate parks.

Users must not ride under the influence of alcohol or drugs, carry passengers or wear headphones or ear pods while riding.

Throughout the trial, Cornwall Council will monitor a range of information, including journey data, safety records and other transport-related information. This evidence will help assess the effectiveness of the scheme and contribute to national research into the future use of e-scooters.

The council’s survey opens on July 2. For more details see the council’s Let’s Talk Cornwall website.