E-scooters to leave city after five years

4 hours ago

Pamela BilalovaNorth East and Cumbria

News image — The orange vehicles have been in Newcastle since 2021

Neuron Mobility A man and a woman are each riding an orange e-scooter along a cycle lane on Grey Street in Newcastle. They are both wearing helmets. The woman has long brown hair, white shirt tied in a knot at the front and black trousers. The man wears black tracksuit bottoms and hoodie. He has a beard. The green arch of the Tyne Bridge can be seen in the distance. — The orange vehicles have been in Newcastle since 2021

E-scooters are set to leave a city five years after the start of a trial.

Operator Neuron confirmed it would stop operating in Newcastle on 31 May, despite the scheme being "well received" locally.

It said more than 1.6 million trips had been taken since the programme's launch in February 2021, but the "difficult decision" was part of broader plans to wind down operations across the United Kingdom.

Newcastle City Council said "many people" had benefited from the vehicles.

The trial was on behalf of the government to see if e-scooters could be legalised as a form of transport, a spokesperson added.

It was originally meant to last 12 months but has been extended several times, most recently in 2024.

Neuron Mobility A woman with long blonde hair is riding an orange Neuron scooter along Newcastle's Quayside. She is wearing jeans, a beige coat and a white helmet. The Tyne Bridge and the Glass House in Gateshead can be seen across the river. — Newcastle is the only city in the UK where Neuron still operates

The firm's UK head Mehmet Can Isiklarli said e-scooter journeys had replaced about 650,000 car journeys, helping reduce CO2 emissions.

"Since launching in Newcastle in February 2021, the trial has been one of the longest-running e-scooter programmes in the UK," he added.

Worries had been raised in the past about the scooters "zig-zagging" down roads, underage riders and people riding two to a scooter or on pavements.

However, Neuron said more than 99.99% of trips were completed safely.

The local authority said: "We know that many people in the city have enjoyed and benefited from the use of the Neuron scooters and we hope that the trial will provide the government with some useful information.

"Neuron will contact customers directly with further details, including information regarding refunds for people with active passes."

The firm ended a similar scheme in nearby Sunderland in 2022, blaming energy costs.

According to its website, Newcastle is the only city in the UK it currently operates in. It also runs schemes across Australia and Canada.

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