York gives green light to e-scooter trial with TIER

TIER – change mobility for good

City of York Council has announced a year-long e-scooter trial and selected Europe’s leading operator TIER to run the game-changing technology on its streets.

The first e-scooters will be deployed at the University of York in a few weeks, offering residents a new, green and Covid-safe mode of transport for getting around the city. Discussions are taking place as to whether York Hospital will also be able to host the scheme

The Department for Transport-approved scheme, will initially see up to 100 e-scooters deployed, with more e-scooters and TIER e-bikes to come. Renting an e-scooter in York will cost riders £1 to unlock the vehicle and 15p per minute travelled.

After a highly competitive tender process involving over 15 other applicants, City of York Council selected TIER as sole operator because of the company’s pioneering approach to safety, ability to ensure orderly parking and its unrivalled sustainability credentials. 

TIER scooters come with industry-leading safety features including an integrated helmet, the largest front wheel in the market, a wider foot plate, dual suspension, a double kick-stand and dual drum brakes for stable riding on uneven surfaces and conditions. 

TIER, founded in 2018 and already in 70 cities across Europe, was the first e-scooter operator in the world to become climate-neutral and is rolling out swappable batteries across its fleet, removing the need to collect and transport the vehicles to a warehouse for charging. York will benefit from this leading model. The company is also demonstrating its financial sustainability, becoming profitable in only its second year.

12 month e-scooter and e-bike trial proposed for York

York could follow other cities like Milton Keynes and Cambridge by introducing a new 12-month trial to offer e-scooters and e-bikes at York Hospital and the University of York.

Scooter GIFs | Tenor

If approved by City of York Council, the preferred supplier will work alongisde York Hospital and the University of York to bring forward the trial later this month – ensuring safety, security and engagement with key groups are core to the trial being implemented.

The trial is part of efforts to support a ‘green’ restart of local travel and help mitigate the impact of reduced public transport capacity.

Funded and run in partnership with the Department of Transport (DfT), the trial could be rolled out in the city at York Hospital and the University of York.

There may be some scepticism about this project. Cycle hire schemes have not been successful in the past with some of the bikes ending up in the river.

We do have some doubts about the safety of electric scooters given the poor standards of road maintenance in parts of the City.

Still it may be worth a trial as long as taxpayers money is not put at risk.

A background report can be read by clicking here