TIER E-Scooter and E-Bike Scheme in York Ends

Alice Lilley reports on the ending of the TIER E-Scooter and E-Bike Scheme in York.

TIER E-scooter
(Image: UNSPLASH)

TIER e-scooters and e-bikes will no longer be available for use across York and the University following the ending of the contract between the City of York Council and TIER on 31 May 2024.

The City of York Council was informed in March that TIER do not wish to extend their contract, subsequently terminating its e-scooter and e-bike trial in York. 

Freshers and current students at the University will therefore need to find alternative ways to travel as they will no longer be able to use TIER e-scooters and e-bikes in and around the city and University campuses. 

This  was not a decision made by the University who on their website have said: “We understand that many of our staff and students will be disappointed by this news as University journeys (to, from, across) make up a large percentage of total trips taken across the city and University.

“City of York Council is looking for an alternative service provider but there will likely be some time when there will be no e-scooter/e-bike provision across the city and University.”

The University has encouraged students and staff to continue travelling sustainably where possible for example by cycling, walking or using the First York bus services and free Campus Zone travel.

The University has met with First Bus to make operational changes to bus routes to better meet the demands of individuals at the University, particularly now that there is a travel vacuum created by the ending of the TIER scheme.

A spokesperson for the University said: “We will be making operational changes from Friday 13 September.

“This is aimed at improving the efficiency of their (First Buses) service by introducing new routes and extending existing routes to University operations.

“The fleet is now all electric, which is in line with our sustainability aims, as well as vehicles being double deckers, ensuring increased passenger numbers.”

There has previously been controversy surrounding First Bus when they implemented charges on campus routes that were previously free in the 2023/24 academic year. This led to a successful campaign by former Student Union President Pierrick Roger and former Community & Wellbeing Officer Hannah Nimmo to restore free bus services between York Sport Village, The Retreat and Green Dykes Lane.

The e-scooter and e-bike trial was part of the Department for Transport micro-mobility trial and had been operating in York since September 2020. 

Initially, it only operated between the University and York Hospital before being extended across the city due to its popularity.

The trial collated data on the use of hired e-scooters and e-bikes across the city to help inform the creation of national guidelines. 

City of York Council states on their website that York service users have taken over 820,000 miles on the e-scooters and e-bikes with over half a million journeys taken by nearly 60,000 users. 

Many of the users were staff and students at the University of York.

The council did not fund the service and only helped choose the operator for the scheme in York.

Councillor Pete Kilbane, Executive Member for Economy and Transport at City of York Council has said: “Participating in the Department for Transport trial enabled York to gain valuable insight into the use of E-Scooters and E-Bikes, and how we might look to make these permanent sustainable transport options in future.

“We’re disappointed TIER have decided to withdraw from York, but we know the findings will prove insightful for the Department for Transport for the creation of their national guidelines”.

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