Scooter provider could be fined over slow rollout

The Bristol e-scooter rollout has faced setbacks due to faulty kickstands

A metro mayor has said if an e-scooter provider "doesn't get its act together", it coud be fined.

TIER took over as the Bristol's main e-scooter provider after the contract with Voi came to an end in October.

Users have shared safety concerns and issues with the app, and TIER says it is repairing some scooters due to faulty kickstands.

George Chamberlain, from the company, said it hopes to fix the issues with current scooters in a few weeks and make another 4,000 - along with a fleet of e-bikes - available by the end of the year.

Scooter user Jess said the brakes are not as good as they could be

Metro Mayor Dan Norris said he is "determined to make it [the rollout] a success".

"We've negotiated with this new provider a contract where we get part of the profits to recycle and put back into public transport in our region," he said.

"[But] the full contract doesn't start until spring and we can start fining them if they haven't got their act together.

"There is this transition, and it's tough."

So far 2,000 e-scooters have been placed in various locations across Bristol.

Jess, from Bristol, who uses them said improvements could be made on safety and parking.

"Downhill there's no [speed] regulator. It can go from anything from 30 to 40 miles per hour, so it's quite a lot," she said.

"Sometimes the brakes aren't good as well.

"On the App it says you can get a TIER here, but when you go there and try and ride it, it doesnt work at all.

"Voi had a bit more information on its app."

'It's really frustrating'

The company is working closely with the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) and Bristol City Council.

Mr Chamberlain said the issue with the faulty part is "really frustrating".

"We are currently dealing with an issue with the manufacturer - the kickstands are not retracting properly," he said.

"It's going to take a few weeks to get those upgraded parts fitted."

Mr Chamberlain said he hoped the phased roll out of e-scooters and e-bikes will be completed by the end of the year.