E-scooter trial paused due to links to crime
Getty Images
A planned e-scooter rental scheme has been paused in Bradford so the council can “get on top” of a problem with them being ridden illegally in the city.
The upcoming trial would have seen about 50 of the electric bikes for hire but Bradford Council said due to links to theft and anti-social behaviour, the project was not going ahead until the issues had been resolved.
Privately owned e-scooters are illegal to ride on all public roads, pavements and shared spaces but still remain a common sight in the city centre.
The local authority said although it had permission from the Department of Transport to start the scheme, it did not want “legal and illegal scooters here at the same time”.
In a statement, Reform councillor Andrew Judson said: “Any trial has now been paused until at least late spring next year, or until I have confidence that illegal e-bike and e-scooter activity has been curbed.
“When we have got on top of it, we can look again at this trial.”
The proposed two-year trial would be linked to the Beryl Bikes e-bike hire scheme introduced in the city earlier this year, which saw 11,000 journeys made by 5,000 users in the first four months of its operation.
A recent report on the e-scooter plan said: “The initiative will provide valuable evidence on the potential role that micromobility can play in supporting first and last-mile journeys, improving access to public transport and reducing dependence on private car travel.
“Findings from the trial will be used to inform future transport policy and investment decisions within the Bradford District.”
According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Judson pointed out that while a similar scheme had been successful in Leeds, Bradford had a “very different landscape”.
He added: “At this stage, a local trial would create unacceptable risk to public safety.
“Given the recent sad death of a young resident caused by illegal activity, it would have been irresponsible to allow this trial in the immediate term.”
Listen to highlights fromWest Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latestepisode of Look North.
Bradford Council
Local Democracy Reporting Service
Electric bikes and scooters
City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council
Transport
Bradford
