E-scooters have had a ‘very positive reception’ across Oxford, the Highways chief said as the trial reached an important milestone.

European micro-mobility company Voi Technology has been chosen to continue delivering the e-scooter trial in the city between June 1 and May 31 next year.

The national e-scooter trial, funded by the Department for Transport, is planned to finish at the end of May 2024.

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Councillor Andrew Gant, cabinet member for highways management on Oxfordshire County Council, said: “The e-scooter trial has had a very positive reception across Oxford, and we are delighted to share that we will be continuing our partnership with Voi until the end of May 2024.

“E-scooters are affordable and easy to use for short trips.

“This helps us to put greener and more sustainable transport at the heart of our priority to address climate impact.

“And now that e-scooters can be used 24/7, they can help keep our busy city running more smoothly.”

Oxfordshire County Council oversaw a recent exercise to select the provider for Oxford’s trial e-scooter programme from June 1 until May 31 next year.

The exercise invited applications from prospective providers to ensure the programme continues to deliver the best service at zero cost to the council.

Successful bidder Voi has been at the helm of operating Oxford’s e-scooter programme since it began in Headington in 2021 with 25 e-scooters, before expanding more widely across the city.

There are now over 750 Voi e-scooters available for hire in Oxford and they have been used to travel more than a combined one million miles through the city’s historic streets.

Jack Samler, regional general manager for Voi UK, Ireland and France, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have been chosen to continue providing an e-scooter service in Oxford.

“Over the last two years we’ve worked closely with Oxfordshire County Council to provide an e-scooter service which works for the whole of the city.     

“We are continuing to see e-scooters grow in popularity across the city as more and more people enjoy the benefits of this affordable, easy-to-use, reliable and sustainable form of transport.”

Oxford’s trial e-scooters have over 62,000 registered users.

Scooters have been also provided to Oxford City Angels, a project supporting women’s safety around the city on Saturday nights.

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But e-scooters have faced a level of criticism.

The number of people injured in e-scooter collisions in the Thames Valley has nearly doubled in the past year, new figures show.

Department for Transport figures released this week show 63 casualties were recorded by Thames Valley Police last year.

It was up from 33 in 2021 and a significant increase from 18 casualties two years prior.

Private e-scooters cannot be ridden legally on roads or pavements in the UK.