E-scooters to be available round-the-clock

E-scooters are to be available day and night throughout the week as part of a pilot project, a council has announced.

The extended operating hours will be trialled for six months in North Northamptonshire.

The council and police officers will meet regularly during the trial to assess its success.

The police have urged people to report any incidents of irresponsible riding.

The electric scooters were launched in North Northamptonshire in March 2021.

A similar scheme had been in place in Northampton since September 2020.

The operating company, Voi, said three million journeys had been registered across the county by March 2023.

The machines have been available from 04:00 to 23:00 every day, but, from 10 February, people will be able to hire them throughout the day and night.

North Northamptonshire Council said extra reflective strips will be fitted to the front of the e-scooters and riders will be encouraged to wear reflective clothing and helmets.

Macauley Nichol, the Conservative-controlled council's executive member for highways and travel, said: "This trial gives us the chance to better understand whether extended hours will benefit more residents.

"The data and feedback we gather from local communities will play a crucial role in determining if a 24/7 operation is the right fit moving forward, and what additional measures might be needed to ensure the scheme is both safe and successful."

Matt O'Connell, from the Northamptonshire Police Safer Roads Team, said: "An e-scooter is not a toy.

"It is a vehicle designed to be ridden on the roads and therefore must be treated with care and responsibility.

"We hope this trial goes well as it will be good for our local communities, but we would also encourage anyone who spots irresponsible riding to report it via Voi's reporting methods."

James Bolton, from the operating company Voi, said: "We're excited to expand to 24/7 service, giving night-time workers, from hospitality staff to nurses, more mobility options."

Voi e-scooters currently operate in Corby, Burton Latimer, Kettering, Wellingborough, Rushden and Higham Ferrers.

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