E-scooter rental company Voi is offering free rides and a helmet to those who take part in a free safe riding skills session in Southampton later this month.
Run by Pedal Power Training, the free in-person 20-minute e-scooter safety sessions will take place on Saturday, May 25 at Guildhall Square between 10am and 2pm.
Participants will be able learn more about Voi e-scooters, ask questions, and develop their riding skills. They will receive a helmet worth £35 and a day pass worth £10, so they can ride for free throughout the session and have free riding time to practise riding safely afterwards.
E-scooters can currently only be ridden on public roads in the UK when rented as part of official trials. Helmets are not a legal requirement, but are recommended by the government.
Riding privately-owned e-scooters on public roads is currently illegal in the UK. In 2022, the government announced that the vehicles would be made legal through the creation of a low-speed, zero-emission vehicle category but this has now been delayed several times, despite various charities, e-scooter operators and retailers calling for the government to bring forward legislation.
Earlier this year, the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety said the likelihood of legislating for private e-scooters with regulations that set safety as the main priority in 2024 is “zero”.
James Bolton, general manager, Voi UK, said: “Safety is our top priority. I’d recommend anyone who rides or wants to ride our e-scooters to take part in one of our safety events to build their confidence.
“Everyone who signs up to Voi has to complete a short in app safety briefing before they can start their first ride. We also have free online training and regularly send out safety tips to our riders.
“Using an e-scooter is a great way to get around without causing congestion or pollution. They’re easy-to-use, affordable, reliable and sustainable.”
Voi is also hosting a number of online ‘Ride Safe’ webinars which cover how to start a ride, traffic rules, road riding etiquette, and how to park without causing an obstruction for pedestrians.
Live webinars run monthly until December 12 and can be booked here. Anyone completing one of them will get 30 minutes of free riding credits.
> Voi's new e-bike offers automatic gear changes and there's a new e-scooter too
