‘We love our Vois!’ - Bristol e-scooter users react to the search for the next operator

Bristol e-scooter users have reacted to the news that the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) is looking for a company to take the city’s e-scooter trial to the next stage in 2023.

WECA has started a tender process as it searches for a company to take the rental scooters to the next level.

Since October 2020, Swedish company Voi has operated the popular scooters in Bristol but WECA says the vehicles could now continue under a single operator or a group of operators who could bid to run them.

There have been around six million journeys in the West of England since the trial began but there have been concerns over safety after a number of road accidents involving e-scooters and also the vehicles catching fire.

Bristol World spoke to Voi users during the morning rush hour in central Bristol to hear their experiences with the e-scooters and what they thought of the possible end of Voi as the operator.

Matilda is a student and uses the Voi scooters when she doesn’t cycle to University of Bristol. Matilda said the e-scooters are ‘really good for getting around’, but thinks they could be better value.

“They used to be good value, but they’re more expensive now. It used to be 10p a minute but it’s gone up to 19p a minute, and it used to be £5 for the day and now it’s £7.50 for the day.

“I think it’s good that there will be competition for the next operator because it means they won’t be able to keep putting up the prices.”

Matilda said she feels ‘pretty safe’ on the e-scooters but as a driver she was more aware of road safety, unlike other users.

“I know lots of people who have a provisional licence but not a driving licence and they’re not so road aware.”

Although she has never had a problem with fire safety when using the vehicles, she said a friend had a worrying experience.

“My friend had a monthly one so kept it at home but once got a message saying put it outside the house as some scooters have caught fire. I think like with any electrical appliance, it’s hard to regulate and you use it at your own risk.”

But Matilda said she would be sad to see a change of operator for sentimental reasons.

“We love our Voi scooters and we’re quite attached to them because it’s our first scooters so I think people will be sad to see them go.

“I would say students my age have a sentimental connection to these scooters - we’ll look back to the ‘good old Voi days!’”

Fellow student Ellie, from Clifton, wasn’t quite so sentimental. She uses a scooter every few days but for her, it’s more of a way to get from A to B.

She said: “I think they’re pretty reasonably priced but I’m not particularly attached to the brand, it’s just a useful way to get around.”

Cafe manager Sylvan uses a Voi scooter most days, often for 10-20 minute commutes.

He said: “I think they’re good value, especially if you’re on Universal Credit or you’re a student because you get a big discount which you wouldn’t get from bus or train companies. I think it’s because it’s a Scandinavian company and they have some social democratic values.

“Most of my family lives in London and they come here and think the Vois are amazing. In London there are several companies competing for prominence and they’re not as good as Voi, which have great coordination with phones and GPS.”

Parking his Voi at College Green, Darren said he was an occasional scooter user, but only because he doesn’t get the chance to commute with them as much as he’d like.

“I live in Whitchurch and there aren’t any parked there, which is a real shame. The buses between south Bristol and the city centre are rubbish and so unreliable that it would be nice to see the scooters in those areas as I’m sure people would use them if they could.”