Home / Technology / New bays tackle e-scooter chaos in Gloucester and Cheltenham
New bays tackle e-scooter chaos in Gloucester and Cheltenham
8 Apr
Summary
- E-scooters were dumped on pavements, blocking access for mobility scooter users.
- 100 designated parking bays are being introduced in Cheltenham and Gloucester.
- Voi operates the rental scooters and is implementing the new parking solution.
Designated parking bays are being introduced for rental e-scooters in response to resident complaints about scooters being abandoned in pedestrian areas. Residents in Gloucester and Cheltenham reported e-scooters frequently left on pavements for days, posing challenges for those with mobility issues. Voi, the company managing the scooters, is creating 100 painted parking bays in the busiest areas to address this problem.
These new bays are intended to make parking clearer for both riders and the community. One resident shared how blocked pavements forced her into the road, leading to dangerous encounters with cars. Another recounted a near-miss with a scooter left behind a car's tire. Voi scooters were introduced to Gloucestershire in 2023 as part of a Department for Transport trial.
Voi currently enforces a procedure for irresponsible parking, which can result in fines or bans. The company reports over 40,000 rides in Cheltenham and Gloucester since the service's launch, indicating its popularity. Voi is keen to experiment with new solutions like the parking bays to ensure the scheme's long-term viability.
