Beryl to bring e-scooter hire to Plymouth!

Plymouth residents and visitors will soon be able to try out a new way to travel around the city following the launch of an e-scooter trial.

Available to hire from the end of July, the e-scooters will join the existing Beryl e-bike scheme, providing another convenient and low-emission transport option for everyday journeys.

Since Beryl launched e-bikes in Plymouth in 2023, more than 35,000 people have used them to make almost 298,000 journeys, clocking up more than 685,000 kilometres – almost to the moon and back! Research indicates that more than 74,000 car trips have been replaced, reducing emissions and easing pressure on our road network.

The e-scooter trial, which is backed by the Department for Transport (DfT) and fully funded by Beryl, will build on this success by offering another flexible option for local travel.

Beryl will introduce 50 e-scooters in the first week, followed by a further 150 during August and they will be available alongside the e-bikes at Beryl’s 68 existing docking sites. These include the Plymouth, Devonport and St Budeaux rail stations, Plymouth coach station, Torpoint Ferry, Barbican landing stage and Admirals Hard.

Whether riders use the e-scooters to access public transport, commute to work, run errands or just explore the surroundings, they will offer an extra alternative to the car for shorter trips, helping to reduce congestion, improve air quality and create a cleaner, more connected city.

Unlike privately owned e-scooters, which remain illegal for use on public roads, the Beryl e-scooters will include insurance as part of their hire and operate under strict safety controls. To hire one, riders will need to be aged 18 or over and hold a valid full, provisional or supported international driving licence.

They will be hireable via the Beryl app and riders will need to complete a mandatory tutorial before their first trip, which covers guidance on safe use and parking. Although not legally required, helmet use is strongly encouraged and there will be in-app education modules designed to promote responsible riding behaviour.

The e-scooters, which travel at a maximum speed of 15.5mph, can be ridden on roads and cycle lanes but not on pavements. There will be a 3mph ‘go slow’ area in the city centre, on and around Armada Way to ensure the public can enjoy this space safely. The e-scooters will automatically slow down to this speed in this area.

Further details about the Beryl e-scooter trial, including hire and safety information, can be found on their website.

The trial will form part of our Connect Plymouth sustainable transport initiative, which integrates ‘micromobility’ (e-bikes and e-scooters), electric vehicle charging bays and an electric car club with existing public transport including buses, ferries and trains. It will be closely monitored.