London, UK, March 2, 2020 — Spin, the micromobility unit of Ford Motor Company, today launches its public hire e-scooter trial in Clacton-on-Sea—Spin’s fifth location in the UK following Colchester, Chelmsford, Basildon and Milton Keynes. So far, more than 15,000 rides have been taken in Essex since launch. This is part of the managed pilot trials that Essex County Council is leading on in partnership with Spin, district, borough and city councils and Essex Police, and is part of its Safer, Greener, Healthier transport campaign.
Any e-scooter which is not part of this trial remains illegal to use other than on private land which must not be accessible to the public. Police have the right to seize e-scooters used illegally.
Spin’s Everyday Heroes programme will be available immediately for Clacton-on-Sea NHS workers to benefit from free 30 minute e-scooter rides to get to work and home with a socially distanced means of transport as they tirelessly and courageously work on the frontline throughout the pandemic. So far, more than 70 NHS workers have registered for the programme in Colchester, Basildon, Chelmsford and Milton Keynes.
To start with, 50 e-scooters will be available for hire in a geo-fenced area in the town from Monday 2nd March covering the centre and surrounding area. Spin is looking to engage with NHS facilities to discuss potential e-scooter parking areas nearby for easier access for riders to their facilities. This marks the beginning of a phased rollout of Spin’s fleet that will be managed in close collaboration with Tendring District Council and Essex County Council. In the beginning it will be aimed at local residents needing to make essential trips. As we move out of the lockdown all residents will be welcome to enjoy this new means of transport.
Everyone’s first ride will be limited to 10mph speed to support safety of first-time riders and other road users. Additionally, some high-traffic areas, including Pier Avenue and the promenade will be “slow-ride-zones”, with a permanent 10mph speed limit enforced through geo-fencing technology while others, including the Pier will be a “no-ride-zone”. Detailed information about where to ride is available in the Spin App.
Riding will cost 20p per minute with no “unlock” fee. Daily, weekly and monthly passes will be also available to those who would like to ride regularly when government restrictions ease around essential travel.
Cllr Alex Porter, Tendring District Council Cabinet Member for Leisure and Tourism, welcomed the pilot starting in Clacton saying: “We are pleased to be part of this pilot scheme, the learning from which will guide national policy on e-scooters.
“These have huge potential to support our work to tackle climate change locally by allowing an alternative to cars and buses, therefore reducing local emissions, as well as supporting people to get out and explore our parks, seafront and town centre.
“I would like to remind people that this is a pilot scheme – and it is important that we fully engage with the process so we can pick up any issues or learning points so everyone can benefit.”
Steve Pyer, UK Country Manager at Spin commented: “Prior and during lockdown, we have seen a good uptake in our services suggesting that residents and essential workers appreciate the socially distanced transport mode. We are pleased to be able to expand our support to the NHS workers in Clacton-on-Sea in addition to Colchester, Chelmsford, Basildon and Milton Keynes.”
Pyer added: “Safety of our riders and all road users remains our priority. As a reminder, riders must be 18+ years old and have a provisional or full driving licence. Otherwise, they will not be covered by insurance and will be riding illegally. All riders will need to complete several safety training modules before their first rides and we encourage them to wear helmets, which we can provide for free.”
Councillor Kevin Bentley, Deputy Leader of Essex County Council and Cabinet Member for Infrastructure, said: “We are in the first wave nationally to safely introduce this innovative service to people in Essex. This is another option for residents, workers and anyone interested in getting around locally in Clacton and the other trial areas, to reconsider how they could travel more sustainably, removing congestion from our local streets and doing so in a way that will improve air quality.
“We will intensively monitor Tendring’s scheme with Spin, looking particularly closely at safety and environmental issues. I am hopeful it will prove to be a great success, but we will not hesitate to pause any scheme if we identify significant problems – that is the point of having a trial. I hope many people will try out the Spin scooters.”
Spin’s Everyday Heroes programme enables all eligible NHS workers (including doctors, nurses, cleaners, radiology and lab technicians, medical assistants, and hospital and clinic administrators) free 30 minute rides. Applicants simply need to upload an image of their NHS ID and register on the dedicated webpage and will then receive a unique code via email for use in the Spin App.
Riders will need to download the Spin App, which is also customised to Tendring Council’s specific rules to ensure the safety of all road users including pedestrians, cars, cyclists, those with sight and hearing loss. Such rules include speed restrictions, geofencing to enforce no riding areas and designated parking areas. Riders will need to input details of their valid driving licence details when registering. For more information on where e-scooters will be parked and where riders will be able to operate, please visit the Clacton-on-Sea How-to-ride page. Riders who complete Spin’s online safety quiz will be able to claim a £5 credit towards their first ride.
Further information on the UK trials can be found on Essex County Council’s website here and frequently asked questions here.
Headquartered in San Francisco, California, Spin is one of the leading micromobility companies and a unit of Ford Mobility. Spin has been recognized for launching the first stationless mobility program in the United States and was instrumental in crafting the world’s first mobility permit system. As a trusted and reliable partner, Spin currently operates electric scooters in many cities and universities nationwide and is the exclusive operator in dozens of markets. Spin consists of a diverse team of experienced professionals from government and private sectors, and the transportation advocacy world, all of whom are committed to fulfilling the company’s mission — giving people the freedom to move and bringing people, communities, and their urban environment closer together. https://www.spin.app/
Rachel Nulty / Shaan Sidhu
Wildfire
spin@wildfirepr.com
+44 (0) 208 408 8000
