Electric scooter trial to take place in West Midlands

Government chiefs have chosen the region for the test – which aims to help "revolutionise" how people travel and tackle climate change.

It will take place in Birmingham and Coventry and will be used in public places to see how they can be safe they are.

West Midlands Mayor Andy Street said: “The West Midlands is proud to be leading the way on future transport development, and I am pleased the Government has put its faith us in again with this new and innovative trial of e-scooters.

"This trial will help bring more flexibility, choice, and greener travel solutions for the region, at a time when we are facing a climate emergency and urging people to leave the car at home.

"We will also use the trial to look at the current transport challenges the coronavirus pandemic has presented us with and explore how e-scooters could be used to help tackle them.

"No region is better equipped than the West Midlands to test, review, and implement trials such as these at pace and scale, and that is testament to the hard work and innovation of those working in our future transport sector."

The e-scooter is aimed to help ease the pressure on public transport services – with the option available for short trips.

It comes as the region as named one of the UK's four Future Mobility Zones to conduct the trials, led by Birmingham City Council and Coventry City Council and Transport for West Midlands.

Councillor Ian Ward, leader of Birmingham City Council, said: "We've been clear for a long time that the future of transport in this region has to be about a wide range of options and choices. The focus must be on moving people not vehicles.

"With a relatively young demographic profile, especially in Birmingham which has one of Europe's youngest populations, e-scooters could be a valuable and attractive part of the solution to help people move around the West Midlands."