• Riders typically use e-scooters for short journeys, with an average journey distance of 3 km (1.8 miles) and 23 minutes*
• Total distance travelled with Spin e-scooters add up to more than 275,000 km (170,762 miles) since launch
• Ongoing safety initiatives so far have seen 150 individuals participate in Spin Safe in-person training courses and more than 700 helmet giveaways
• Nearly 500 individuals benefited from subsidised schemes including NHS workers, the unemployed and those on a low income in Essex

11 May 2021 – Spin, the micromobility unit of Ford Motor Company, today announces that its e-scooter riders have taken more than 100,000 rides since the trial launched, underscoring the relevance of the scheme that is part of Essex County Council’s (ECC) Safer Greener Healthier campaign. This milestone has been achieved in just five months across the six service areas in Essex, partly driven by a growing need for a socially-distanced means of transport as people slowly return to being out and about, including commuting to work and running errands.

Each trial has started on a small-scale and is constantly evaluated in collaboration with Essex County Council (ECC) and local authorities and is driven by demand. Spin manages per-minute hire-schemes in Basildon, Chelmsford, Clacton-on-Sea, Colchester and a slightly different scheme called Spin+ in Brentwood and Braintree where customers can hire an e-scooter longer term and have sole access to it 24/7**.  With lockdown easing and more pleasant weather, people are more open to get on a Spin e-scooter. To meet this demand there are currently more than 500 free-floating*** e-scooters in operation in Essex.

Rider data confirms that Spin e-scooters are used for short journeys, on average 3 km in distance and 23 minutes in length, which is in line with one of the overall objectives of the scheme. Almost half of the rides (46,600) have taken place in Basildon, Spin’s first Essex location to launch five months ago, but Colchester is catching up fast (27,500 rides) where Spin launched less than three months ago, followed by Chelmsford (21,000) and Clacton-on-Sea (6,900).

As part of its commitment to safe riding, Spin has also begun a series of its Spin Safe in-person training events across Essex to educate riders on how to safely ride an e-scooter while respecting all road users - including the vulnerable. So far 150 people have taken part in sold out Spin Safe events in Basildon and Chelmsford and hundreds more will have the opportunity to participate in the coming months in other locations (Brentwood on 14th-15th May, Clacton-on-Sea on 22nd - 23rd May and Colchester 3th-5th June).

Whilst wearing a helmet is not legally required, Spin has given away more than 700 free helmets to Essex riders and has committed to giving away thousands of more at its training events.  Spin's vehicle speed has recently been reduced to 12.5 MPH from 15.5 MPH to further ensure safety, while in slow-ride zones speed is restricted to 10 MPH.

Commenting on the 100,000 rides milestone, Steve Pyer, UK Country Manager at Spin said, “The pace of e-scooter adoption in Essex represents an exciting shift to more sustainable transport in line with the council’s Safer Greener Healthier campaign. Now that lockdown restrictions are easing, we’re seeing more people use our e-scooters for short journeys to get them to key destinations across the region and reduce the number of short car journeys across Essex. Safety remains our top priority and we’re continuing to educate riders and the wider community about how to ride and park our free-floating e-scooters safely. We do this through a wide range of activities including digital campaigns, in-app notifications, in-person training events, free helmet giveaways. As well as partnerships with London Vision, the sight-loss charity, RoSPA, the road safety organisation and the Sensory Action Alliance, supporting those with sight or hearing loss.”

Through its various programmes, Spin supports local communities by providing accessible transport to those most in need, with nearly 500 individuals benefiting from them so far. It has seen a steady adoption of its Everyday Heroes programme that offers 30-minute free rides to eligible NHS workers, with more than 430 signed up in Essex. As for Spin Access, its programme for the unemployed and those on low-income, Spin has so far supported more than 60 individuals by offering half-price rides. Both programmes remain open for new applicants.

*Average distance and length are based on the 30 day period preceding 4th May.

**More information on Spin+ in Brentwood and Braintree can be found here https://www.spin.app/rent-uk

***In predominantly residential areas, Spin e-scooters are “free-floating” so they can be parked in most places in the service area’s riding zones. They may appear like they are ‘left behind’, but they are just waiting for someone to rent them.

Notes to editors

Spin data collated 4th May 2021 based on the use of its e-scooters in Essex:

Quotes collected from Spin Everyday Heroes riders when asked for their opinions on the service:

“I am so grateful for Spin's Everyday Heroes programme as it has more than halved my usual journey time of walking to work which I am doing to avoid public transport for the best safety for the public, my patients and myself and my family. I hope our hard work for the NHS will continue to be recognised and rewarded by Spin and others long into the future. Thank you for your support!”

- NHS dentist, Essex

“So helpful to know there’s an alternative to walking or cycling, super time saving on everyday errands.”

-        NHS hospital administrator, Essex

“Spin Everyday Heroes has been a game changer for me. It’s given me a covid safe way to get to work that is much faster so that also allows me more time for patient care without sacrificing time at home with my family members. The fact that they offered such a generous discount also has been a life saver as it has enabled me to remain in a job I love and enabled me to help people and not have to leave to find something I could do at home.”

-  NHS medical secretary, Essex

Other information:

The service is only available to adults (18+) and who have a valid full or provisional driving licence and who have registered on the Spin App, so riders are covered by insurance, like with any car. If someone else other than the account holder is riding the e-scooter it will be uninsured. Both the rider and account holder will be liable for £300 fine and 6 points on their driving licence. New riders must also view a comprehensive set of rules and instructions and complete a safety test before they can take their first ride.

Information relating to parking areas for each town or city can be found on the Spin App and riders are encouraged to always locate the parking areas before they start riding. In busy town centres there are specific parking areas and clear no-parking zones. Riders must park responsibly and never block access for other road users, including driveways, bus stops and shop entrances. Riders are also educated on parking best practice and need to take a photo of their parked e-scooter to lock it, and these are reviewed for compliance.

For more information and maps of the Essex trial areas and frequently asked questions can be found here.