Swedish company Voi has been appointed to operate e-scooters in the West Midlands. The trial will create more than 120 new jobs.
E-scooters will be rolled-out in Birmingham and Coventry from next Thursday (10 September). Soon afterwards, the scooters will be deployed in Sandwell (West Bromwich), Solihull, Walsall, Wolverhampton and Warwickshire.
The tender process, which was started last month by TfWM, part of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), concluded with the contract being offered to Voi as the sole operator.
For the purpose of the trial the DfT requires a maximum speed of 15.5 mph on roads. In pedestrianised areas a lower speed limit of 5mph will be applicable.
E-scooters are allowed on any 30 mph or less road, however the council have advised users to use designated cycle routes wherever possible.
Voi launched Europe’s first dockless e-scooter service in 2018 and now operates in 45 cities across 11 countries.