Hartlepool electric scooter trial hailed a 'resounding success' as more than 5,000 users register

The town became one of the first places in the country to road test the e-scooters last August.

It followed a campaign to secure the pilot locally by Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen.

In Hartlepool, there are 5,130 registered users and the scooters have been used to make 6,256 journeys since being launched in town.

The number of locations where they are available from has also grown significantly from just three to begin with to about 30 now.

Peter Gowland director of HartlePower Community Interest Company (CIC), which is managing the scheme in town, said the pilot scheme with e-scooter supplier Ginger will continue for another year.

He added: “Overall the scheme has worked really well.

"HartlePower is delighted to take part in the extension of the pilot for another year in collaboration with Ginger.

"There’s been one or two blips but otherwise it has been a resounding success.

"The world is going electric and I believe this is the precursor to that.”

Mr Gowland said the majority of users have been younger people riding them for pleasure.

But he added they also have a broad spectrum of riders and he reckons they will become increasingly used by people to travel short distances to work or medical appointments.

Costing £2 for 20 minutes, the most popular pick-up points in Hartlepool are Town Square, on the Headland, and Church Square.

They can be found everywhere from Clavering, Throston and Owton Manor to Dyke House and the Fens.

The scooters are allowed on roads and anywhere a bicycle can legally be ridden.

Riders must be over 18 and hold at least a provisional driving licence.

Across the Tees Valley there have been 23,600 journeys made.

Mayor Houchen said: “As you can see from the numbers this pilot has been popular with more than 14,000 people regularly taking advantage of the scooters, proving they are a real, affordable green transport alternative for students and workers.

“E-scooters are another example of how we’re doing things differently and developing the technologies of the future, which is crucial for my plan for good-quality, well-paid local jobs for local workers.”

For more details, go to www.ginger.town/hartlepool

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