E-scooter tandem riding ban to be enforced

E-scooter rental company Dott is introducing a series of new safety measures

E-scooter riders who take passengers could be banned from using the machines as part of a new safety push.

Dott, which operates an e-scooter rental scheme in Bristol, Bath and parts of South Gloucestershire, has always prohibited tandem riding.

It is now enforcing new rules which means people caught riding in tandem and letting other people use their licence will be banned from the app.

The 'Scoot Safe' campaign is also warning people that riding under the influence of alcohol or drugs could see people lose their driving licence or face prison time.

The campaign has been launched by Helen Godwin, the mayor of the West of England region, and Clare Moody, the police and crime commissioner for Avon and Somerset.

People seen tandem riding can be reported to Dott, which says it can issue bans within 24 hours, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Hiring an e-scooter with Dott is the only way people can legally ride one on public roads in the area.

Riders must be 18 or over and have a driving licence or a provisional licence.

Helen Godwin said lots of people have valid concerns about the scheme.

"We know how handy e-bikes and e-scooters are for some people to get around our towns and cities, and that most people ride responsibly," she said.

"But lots of people have valid concerns. Convenient travel for some people shouldn't inconvenience others.

"Enhanced enforcement from Dott will mean people are kicked off the app when more than one person rides on an e-scooter, alongside new fines for poor parking, and easier ways for people to report issues."

The new safety scheme aims to encourage responsible riding

The e-scooter trial - first run by Voi, then Tier and now Dott - is one of the largest in the UK and Europe, involving more than 1,500 e-bikes and 2,500 e-scooters.

Almost 10,000 rides are taken each day, and the scheme is now expanding into Yate and Chipping Sodbury as part of a six-month trial.

Ms Moody said: "E-scooters can be a convenient way to travel but must be used legally and responsibly.

"When they're not, they cause real problems - they put pedestrians at risk, create hazards for people with mobility issues and families with young children, and even endanger the riders themselves."