Oxford\u2019s e-scooter rental schem<\/a>e<\/a> \u00a0started in February 21 and is now one of more than 15 schemes in the country. Planned government legislation should approve personal e-scooters that reach certain safety standards by May 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What might make you ditch your bike and hire one of these convenient machines, at least for short urban trips?<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Scooters are seen as mechanically simpler than bikes, and of course hiring means you have no maintenance responsibility. If something does go wrong it\u2019s not your problem. They are easy to find via the Voi<\/a> <\/a>app, in locations all over the city, and you don\u2019t have to worry about theft. Renting an e-scooter avoids the problem of storing a bicycle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You need to be over 18 with a driving licence to hire a scooter. They cost \u00a31 to unlock plus 20p per minute after that. Voi have introduced a leasing option, for example \u00a340 a month. Their maximum speed is 12 mph, limited for safety to 8 or even 5 mph in some parts of the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although scooters can be seen on almost every street corner, you don\u2019t see many of them abandoned on pavements or in ditches. But is it ideal that e-scooters are stored on pavements? Surely they should replace car-parking space rather than adding yet more clutter for pedestrians to avoid?\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n The e-scooters seem to be popular with users and are not generating as much antipathy as the hire bikes did. Car drivers have commented that e-scooter riders are hard to see and appear vulnerable. We don\u2019t yet have injury figures for Oxford, but in London there have been 25 serious injuries in 2.1 million trips over 18 months of operation. That\u2019s about one injury per 80,000 rides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What about riding them? Given their tiny wheels, there are surprisingly few accidents caused by the wheel getting caught in a pothole, and riders seem to quickly become competent. Voi recommends wearing a helmet, but few riders do. Though you don\u2019t get the free exercise of a bicycle, there are benefits from standing and balancing, which strengthen core muscles. Scooting is definitely better for you than sitting in a car. The electric motor will get you up hills without you ending up in a sweat. On the other hand, riding an e-scooter won\u2019t warm you up in cold weather.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The bike wins hands down for carrying shopping or other loads.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n\n
Pros and cons<\/h2>\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nScooter vs bike<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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