The shared e-scooter trial in Canterbury operated by American firm Bird has been extended until November, Kent County Council has agreed.
Introduced in November 2020, Canterbury is one of two areas in the UK where Bird operates its shared e-scooters, with the firm also present in Redditch.
The UK-wide e-scooter trials had been set to end this month, but the Department for Transport announced in December that the end date would be pushed to November in a bid to collect more data.
According to Zag Daily estimates, Bird operates more than 350 shared devices in the area and is the sole micromobility provider offering e-scooters.
“We are thrilled to support the trial extensions together with Kent County Council as demand for our vehicles continue to rise,” said Bird General Manager for the UK and Ireland James Padden.
“We can see an almost fourfold increase in rides compared with this time last year, demonstrating significant untapped demand from Canterbury residents for a convenient, clean and fun alternative to motor transport.
“Our scooters are also especially popular before or after a train journey, showing that micromobility is fast becoming an integral part of the transport mix for the city.”
Bird has a presence in more than 400 locations around the world including throughout Europe and the US.
Kent County Council Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, David Brazier, added: “We welcome the opportunity to continue hosting this trial of electric scooters in parts of Canterbury.
“The economic and environmental benefits of electric micro-transport are well documented, but it is crucial we monitor the progress of this scheme to get a true understanding of how people use and interact with them.
“We look forward to continuing work with the DfT to understand if and how the use of these vehicles has a place in Canterbury and the wider county going forward.”
