Almost 1000 e-scooters to hit Birmingham streets as part of new scheme

Nearly 1,000 e-scooters will be made available for hire as part of a new scheme in Birmingham.

Micromobility specialist Beryl launched a brand-new e-scooter hire scheme on the streets of Birmingham yesterday (Wednesday August 2). The first phase of the scheme will see 200 e-scooters made available to hire in the city centre and surrounding neighbourhoods with a further 700 to be rolled out in a phased manner by the end of September 2023.

Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), which is part of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and Birmingham City Council, appointed Berly as the new operator for the e-scooter rental trial in the city after the contract with Voi came to an end.

Some changes have been added such as driving licence scanning technology with selfie verification on sign up and further checks when moving account to a new device. There will also be both random and targeted selfie verification checks to deter misuse. These e-scooters will need to be collected from and returned to a designated dock or parking bay – often located alongside the cycle hire docking stations. This will reduce roadside clutter and keep streets tidy.

Improvement in air quality

Beryl CEO and co-founder, Phil Ellis, said: “We’re really excited to be working with another of the UK’s major city regions and I’m confident that our experience and innovation can help our e-scooters become a crucial cog in the region’s integrated urban transport network.

“As well as being fun, easy to use and cost-effective, our e-scooters provide a sustainable alternative to the car that helps reduce traffic congestion, cut harmful carbon dioxide emissions and improve air quality. They’re particularly useful for first and last mile journeys and a great way to connect with other urban transport systems or to commute to and from the office. We hope their arrival on the streets of Birmingham will encourage as many people as possible to switch to more sustainable transport.”

How underage riders will be stopped

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and WMCA Chair, said: “Over the last three years, e-scooters became a fixture of Birmingham’s transport network – often proving to be a popular alternative to cars for shorter journeys and helping to reduce road traffic congestion.

“After what was always designed to be an initial e-scooter trial, we took the opportunity of a break in contract to try a different approach with a new operator. I would like to thank regular e-scooter users for their patience during the transition to that new operator – the UK based firm Beryl.

“Central to Beryl’s approach is a docked or parked system which will help reduce clutter on the roadside – ensuring tidier streets and a better experience for pedestrians. Another key element – crucial given previous incidents and lessons to be learnt – is putting in place more safety checks and enhanced verification of users in order to deter underage riders and other instances of misuse. E-scooters must be operated responsibly and - in partnership with Beryl - we will continuously monitor these new measures to ensure local people can be reassured about what we’re offering.”

Cllr Liz Clements, cabinet member for transport with Birmingham City Council, added: “E-scooters provide another sustainable form of transport and I’m pleased to see the extra safety measures with this trial. Being able to use them alongside cycle hire, with many of the parking bays located alongside cycle docking stations, means people can hop from one to other and venture even further afield on sustainable, active transport.”

How to use the Beryl e-scooters?

The e-scooters cost £1 to unlock and 20p per minute to use. They can be hired via the Beryl app, available for download on the App Store for iOS and the Google Play Store for Android users. Available e-scooters, Beryl bays and operating zones are all visible in the app.

Riders must be aged over 18 and provide a valid UK Driving Licence to use the West Midlands e-scooter scheme. The 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 has vehicle approval from the Department for Transport (DfT), ensuring it meets the highest safety standards.

People are also reminded that only e-scooters hired from the approved trial scheme can be ridden on the highway and public places.