The Scoot Happy Tour - a scheme designed to boost rider confidence, sharpen e-scooter skills and demonstrate the importance of responsible riding - surpassed 250 in-person session participants in the Bournemouth and Poole areas in December. 

Launched in April this year, the incentivised scheme offers both in-person sessions or a convenient online course, focusing on users’ roadcraft skills and their ability and awareness when sharing road space with others.

In person sessions come in one of two forms - Tryouts, a one hour session with Beryl staff split into theory and practical lessons or Skills Sessions, a two-hour course run by Bikeability instructors.

Analysis shows that participants have made over ten journeys on average since completing the in person sessions, meaning the training has encouraged hundreds more sustainable journeys across Bournemouth and Poole. 

Beryl CEO, Phil Ellis, said: “We believe that safety is paramount, and we put it at the forefront of everything that we do, whether that’s designing schemes, working with local authorities, developing products or helping our users. 

“We know that fears over safety can inhibit people from taking up micromobility schemes, so by helping to boost confidence and awareness, we can hopefully help remove some of the barriers.

“The numbers show that, by doing this in a fun and interactive way, we are inspiring more people to take up sustainable travel options and helping to reduce road congestion and improve air quality and public health.”

Cllr Mike Greene, BCP Council’s Portfolio Holder for Sustainability and Transport

 said: “We’re pleased to support and celebrate safe e-scooter journeys. Responsible riding and the safety of both the rider and the public is imperative. The Scoot Happy Tour has provided some excellent in-person and online sessions that will build confidence, sharpen e-scooter skills and improve safety. We hope that this continues to motivate people to make more sustainable journeys across Bournemouth and Poole.”

Findings from the Government’s National evaluation of e-scooter trials report show that, out of the 32 UK trials, Bournemouth and Christchurch has the second highest utilisation by area. Data showed that four trips per e-scooter are made daily. 

Beryl currently operates a Department for Transport approved e-scooter scheme in Bournemouth and Christchurch and has done since January 2021. The scheme has amassed over 585,000 journeys covering more than two million kilometres, the equivalent of around 50 journeys around the Earth.

This equates to over 24 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions saved; the equivalent of around 144 airline flights from London to Edinburgh or 1,641,533 boiled kettles.*

Feedback from over 4000 e-scooter users shows that almost a third (30.6%) of the e-scooter journeys on the Island have replaced road transport journeys - including driving a car/van, being a passenger in a car/van, and using a taxi or riding a motorbike or moped.

During the trial periods, e-scooter riders are required to provide a valid UK Driving Licence to participate. They are also asked to provide feedback on their experiences using the vehicles to support data learnings on operating the service. 

Beryl e-scooters can be used on roads, cycle lanes, carriageways and other areas where cycling is permitted but not on pavements. Every Beryl e-scooter is DfT approved, ensuring it meets the highest safety standards. Beryl has and will continue to consult with key organisations as the trial progresses. 

To begin a trip with a Beryl e-scooter, users just need to follow the simple in-app directions to unlock the vehicle for use. At the end of their ride, users must lock the scooter via the app and will hear a chime from the scooter to register that it is locked. Beryl e-scooters available to hire are visible both on-street and in the app, with Beryl Bays and operating zones also shown in the app.  

Beryl e-scooters are available to hire through two payment choices of Pay-As-You-Ride (£1.50 unlock fee + 10p per minute) or Minute Bundles (£1.50 unlock fee and bundles priced at 5p per minute; 100 minutes for £5, 200 minutes for £10, 300 minutes for £15). Users who park a hired e-scooter outside of a Beryl Bay will be charged a £5 convenience fee, while users who lock a Beryl e-scooter outside the operating zone will be charged £10. This fee covers operational costs associated with returning vehicles to a bay for another user to ride.

*Carbon saving calculations are approximate and are based on industry research

For more information on Beryl, visit Beryl.cc