Micro-mobility operator Voi has moved to address e-scooter parking concerns by working with the Royal National Institute of the Blind (RNIB) to develop a new rack.

Voi is the UK’s biggest operator of shared e-scooters with trials running in 18 towns and cities, including Cambridge, Birmingham and Liverpool.

It has occasionally faced criticism for the way in which scooters are being parked.

In April, e-scooters were reported to be “overflowing” from designated parking zones in Bristol, blocking pavements. On one occasion, over 100 were found in a zone in Clifton with one local suggesting that motor vehicle parking spaces be given over to them.

Critics say the shape of e-scooters makes them a significant trip hazard.

Voi has responded by devising new parking racks with extended and raised side panels that enclose the whole length of the e-scooter.

The colour has also been enhanced to make the scooter rack more visually distinctive and to help cane users locate and avoid it more easily.

Each rack can hold up to 10 e-scooters with the first ones to be installed in Birmingham, followed by other areas.

Jack Samler, General Manager at Voi UK and Ireland, commented: “We’ve been working closely with RNIB for several months to redesign our e-scooter racks to improve the visibility and address mobility issues faced by blind and partially sighted people.

“During the upcoming months, we will be installing these parking racks in cities where we have trials, and we are looking forward to evaluating the impact that the collaborative design has during the trials.”

Andy Street, the Mayor of the West Midlands, added: “The e-scooter trial in the West Midlands is all about learning from people’s experiences to develop a scheme which works for riders and the wider travelling public.

“The RNIB have raised legitimate concerns regarding the scheme, and it is to Voi’s credit that they have worked in partnership with them to design these new racks that are now starting to be installed in Birmingham.

“If we want e-scooters to become part of the UK’s transport system then we have to use trials like ours to make sure they work for everybody.”

Voi has also recently introduced an ‘end of ride photo’ feature in its app. This requires riders to take and submit a photo of their parked scooter after each ride which Voi’s support team can then review.

Riders who leave e-scooters lying down or obstructing the pavement will receive a warning for their first infraction and a fine of £25 for any further incidents. Voi says it has seen a 70 per cent improvement in good parking following the introduction of the feature.