E-scooters are being rolled out in more areas of Oxford today

The e-scooter trial will expand into the 'eastern arc' of Oxford, with areas including Marston, Cowley, Hinksey, Iffley, Rose Hill, Barton and Florence Park now within the remit of the scheme.

Scooters which stray outside this area will automatically stop working because of technology called geofencing.

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Since its launch in February in Headington, the e-scooter trial by Oxfordshire County Council and partner Voi Technology has seen 9,400 unique users sign-up to use the app-enabled scooters.

The council has billed the scooters as providing 'zero-emission journeys' as part of a big investment in active travel infrastructure, funded by a £2.9 million grant from the Department for Transport.

Tim Bearder, the council's cabinet member for highway management said: “As a county council, we have set out our continued commitment to addressing climate change and transport innovation is a key part of that. 

"To date, the trial has been a great success with our residents. With the expansion of the trial, many more can now benefit from rapid, green, low cost transport as the city recovers.”

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Jack Samler, general manager at Voi UK and Ireland, added: “Since the trial launched in Oxford, over 22,000 rides were taken with Voi scooters in Headington, replacing an estimated 8,950 short car trips. 

"We are delighted to continue to work closely with Oxfordshire County Council to expand our trial into other areas of the city ensuring more people can adopt this safe, fun and environmentally-friendly mode of transport, ditching short car trips, and creating a healthier and better city for all.”

200 more scooters

The e-scooters were first trialled in Headington

The expansion of the trial will see the number of scooters increase incrementally from 120 to 200.

Rental scooters can use roads and cycle lanes within the trial area but are illegal to use on pavements. 

In addition, there will be further slow riding, no riding and mandatory parking areas in the expanded trial area to ensure the safety of riders and other road users.

READ MORE: What it's like to ride on Headington's e-scooters

E-scooter users must be over 18 and hold a provisional or full driving licence.

The expansion of the trial had been set to include the city centre as well, but concerns about how much space the scooters would take up in the middle of Oxford have led this to be postponed for now.

In the future, all of Oxford and surrounding areas could be served by the e-scooters.

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