E-scooters could soon be rolled out to new areas

E-scooters could be rolled out to smaller towns after the provider's contract was extended, a councillor says.

Gloucestershire County Council has agreed to continue Voi Ltd's contract until July 2027.

Roger Whyborn, cabinet member for sustainable transport and road safety, said the e-scooters were "not a frivolous leisure activity but a serious contribution towards commuting" and could be introduced to smaller towns.

While some residents raised safety concerns about e-scooters, Harry Foskin, senior policy manager at Voi, said it provides "traffic rules, safe riding tips, and how to park without obstructing pedestrians by in-app training".

The trial currently covers Gloucester and Cheltenham, along with Churchdown and Bishops Cleeve, but could be extended to other parts of Gloucestershire.

The county has participated in the Department for Transport's (DfT) UK e-scooter trial since its launch in August 2020.

Voi reported 14.5 % of the population of Gloucester and Cheltenham are now active e-scooter users.

Whyborn added that the council is "not constrained by the government's trial area".

"We can go anywhere in the county and we think there will be a lot of potential for this to be set up in some of the smaller towns," he said.

But Anne Lyne, a Gloucester resident, said e-scooters are "a nightmare" and should not be allowed.

"You can't hear them and [some riders] have no regard for the highway code," Lyne said.

"I use a walker and they're not aware of me."

Fiona Paul from Huntley said she would like to see more rules for e-scooters.

"I suppose the kids have got to have something but, at the end of the day, it's all down to safety really," she said.

"If they ride them safely, then it's not too bad."

Foskin said Voi's e-scooter scheme is fully compliant with the DfT's regulations, and the company works with organisations such as the RNIB and Guide Dogs "to ensure our vehicles do not represent additional obstacles for disabled pedestrians".

"And we know there's always more that we can do, whether that's working with the council to improve parking or introducing new safety initiatives, we will do it, rest assured."

In March 2026, Voi reported 34,000 journeys are made on e-scooters in Gloucestershire every month, which Whyborn said is "about the same as a major bu route".

Since November 2021, the DfT e-scooter trial has been extended five times.

A DfT spokesperson said: "E-scooters have real potential to improve local connectivity and cut emissions, and we want to see that potential realised safely and responsibly across the UK.

"The trials currently running are allowing us to understand how e-scooters operate in the real-world in a controlled way, ahead of legislating for them to be used more widely."

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