Neuron听Mobility has launched 250 e-scooters in a 12-month city trial in Newcastle听from today.听
The launch, held back a day by inclement weather, will see the听distinctive orange e-scooters deployed across the city,听with听the number听set to听ramp up significantly as the trial continues.听听
The听government-approved trial was launched as quickly as possible as the听Department for Transport听wanted to see the e-scooters听offered to those needing to make essential听journeys during COVID-19听restrictions.听
Neuron is听providing free passes to NHS and Emergency Services staff during the national lockdown,听redeemable through the rates and passes section of the Neuron app. During the first three听months the company will also offer free rides for commuters between 5am to 9am daily.听听
As听the COVID-19 situation improves,听there will also be more offers including those for university听students and people on low incomes.听
The e-scooters are GPS-enabled听and Neuron and Newcastle City Council will use听geofencing听technology to control where they are ridden and parked, and how fast they can travel in听certain areas by creating slow-zones, no-ride zones and no-parking zones.听听
Each e-scooter听will be fitted with a unique license plate for easy identification and to promote responsible听use.听
Neuron is听also听deploying a dedicated safety team as part of the trial. They are armed with听hospital-grade disinfectant to keep e-scooters and helmets completely clean and germ-free.听听
Zachary Wang, CEO of Neuron Mobility, said: 鈥淲e are delighted to partner with Newcastle听City Council, e-scooters are a great socially-distanced transport option for those that really听must travel.听
鈥淪afety is our top priority:听it dictates our e-scooter design听and also听the way听we operate them. Our e-scooters are packed with cutting-edge safety features and our听safety course and riding guidelines have been co-developed with the Royal Society for the听Prevention of Accidents.鈥�听
Cllr Arlene Ainsley, cabinet member for transport and air quality at Newcastle City听Council, said: 鈥淲e鈥檙e very excited to be launching our e-scooter trial with Neuron today.听The e-scooters offer a safe, convenient and low-carbon transport option for people and听we听very much hope they will play an important role in helping to transform the way we travel听around our city.听
鈥淲hile we remain in national lockdown, the scooters will primarily be for key workers and听we encourage people to only use them for essential journeys at this time.鈥�听
Neuron鈥檚 N3 e-scooters听are听already proven across Australia and New Zealand,听and听more recently in Slough.听
They听feature听an听app-controlled Helmet Lock which secures a safety听helmet to the e-scooter, electronically releasing it to use at the start of the booking.听听
As well as the Helmet Lock, Newcastle riders will benefit from voice guidance to educate and听warn them of how to travel safely; a听鈥�Follow My Ride鈥�听feature which allows riders to share听their trip with friends and family in real time for added safety and peace of mind; and a听999听emergency听button which can tell if someone has had a fall, then help them call the听emergency services.听
The company will use a topple detection feature that alerts Neuron鈥檚 operations team if an听e-scooter has been left on its side so it can quickly be repositioned safely. There will also be听a range of 鈥榮mart parking鈥� initiatives to control and promote safe parking, many of which are听a first for the UK.听
Riders听over听the age of听18听who听hold a full or provisional driving licence听are able to听book and听use the e-scooters through Neuron鈥檚 app.听Single trips will cost 拢1 to听unlock the e-scooter and 18 pence per minute after that.听听
More frequent users have the option to purchase Neuron Passes, a subscription service,听available in three-day (拢15), weekly (拢22), or monthly (拢36) options. The packages will allow听users to ride as many times as they want for up to 90 minutes per day for a fixed affordable听price.
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