An innovative e-scooter trial has been launched in Copeland – and members of the public can now take part.
Eighty e-scooters are available for hire from from Westlakes Science Park, near Whitehaven, and various locations around Whitehaven, with rental times ranging from 20 minutes to 24 hours.
Rental costs start at £2 for the first 20 minutes, and the Segway MAX models can move at up to 11mph with their use permitted on public highways in and around Whitehaven and some surrounding areas, including Westlakes Science Park.
Copeland is one of a number of trial areas chosen to assess the safety and impacts of e-scooters on the road, part of the Government’s Future of Transport regulatory review.
Ginger, which provides electric scooters in cities across the UK, is partnering with Copeland Borough Council to deliver the pilot project.
E-scooters have initially been available for tenants of Westlakes for use on the park for the past month.
Michael Pemberton, chief executive of BEC which owns the park, said: “BEC is proud to be a part of Ginger’s e-scooter trial in Copeland.
“We have noticed a fabulous intake of the use of the e-scooters by our tenants and we are happy to have the opportunity to continue improving and promoting better air quality by having them located at our new Bus Station development in Whitehaven, which is scheduled to open mid-May.”
The e-scooters are available to rent every day, 24 hours a day.
Bookings, payments and insurance are arranged through the Ginger Shared Transport App. This includes unique age and licence verification with facial recognition, and users must be 18 with a full/provisional driving licence.
Details of operational boundaries are also outlined at this time and the e-scooters must be returned to a Ginger Hub after use. Helmets and fluorescent clothing are recommended.
Ginger is also supporting NHS, emergency service workers and the Armed Forces with free rides until June 21.
Hubs have initially been created at: Whitehaven Train Station, Corkickle Train Station, Aikbank Road, Lowther Street, Jericho Road, Bleng Avenue, Ennerdale Terrace, Kinniside Avenue, the West Cumberland Hospital, all Whitehaven, Westlakes Science Park and Parton.
To suggest extra locations for a hub – and for more further information and to book a scooter – download the Ginger app.
