An E-Scooter trial in Yeovil has been hailed the top performing in the UK after users travelled further than the distance from the UK to Australia in the first seven weeks.

The e-scooter trial, awarded to South Somerset District Council, saw 878 people signing up in the first ten days, and making 925 journeys. By November 30 records were set with a total of 3,791 rides totalling an amazing 10,035 miles. During the November lockdown, the e-scooters were offered free to NHS and emergency workers and usage grew steadily.

The council says the average ride time is 28.58 minutes and the average journey distance is 2.65 miles, more than 30 per cent higher than the industry average in other counties.

The scooters are managed and maintained by their makers Zwings using an electric van. Both the van and the e-scooters’ batteries are charged with a 100% renewable energy supply. The e-scooters are fitted with state of the art GPS, ensuring they are only used in the trial areas, are left in the right parking bays, and enable the speed to be regulated in slow zones. A spokesman said: “There are always challenges, and as this is a trial it will continue to be a learning process.

“From day one the uptake was very encouraging, though understandably when introducing something new, there were concerns from some residents around safety, misuse and the suitability of e-scooter bay locations and e-scoot zones. These were quickly rectified with a couple of bays relocated to more usable locations and new ones added.”

The e-scooters are being used for commuting as well as for recreation. There are new scooter bays in residential areas, to connect to commuter corridors to the Lufton and Lynx Trading Estates.

SSDC portfolio holder for environment councillor Sarah Dyke said: “The latest data from Zwings is really encouraging. We’re delighted residents and visitors are championing this new initiative.”

There are 20 parking bays across the trial zone, with six restricted zones and slow-speed zones where e-scooters either lose all acceleration or their speed is capped. For example, pedestrian areas in the town centre are no-go zones around which there are slow-speed zones, covering parts of Middle Street and the High Street. Other restricted zones are at the cemetery, the hospital, Tesco and Yeovil Leisure Park. There will soon be two more at Pen Mill Trading Estate and Wyndham Park.

You can enter code Switchtoscoot to get 20 minutes free (offer ends January 10). To get Zwinging, download the Zwings app. You need to be 16 plus and have at least a provisional licence.

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