ELECTRIC-powered e-scooters – the latest craze in urban travel – were buzzing around Minehead’s streets for the first time this week, at the beginning of a nine-month trial to provide a zero carbon alternative to cars in the town.

Some 25 yellow and purple scooters stationed in parking bays around the town have been in almost constant use by visitors and residents since they were introduced last Saturday and the first response has been that they could be a valuable attraction.

“They are brilliant, if used responsibly,” said Minehead’s Mayor, Cllr Paul Bolton, who was one of the first to take a spin on an e-scooter. “Anything that takes traffic off our roads must be a good idea. Minehead eventually wants to become carbon-neutral and this must be a step in the right direction.”

Somerset West and Taunton Council has appointed Zipp Mobility to run the Minehead trial, which will last until March next year.

The Zipp operations team supervised Saturday’s launch at Warren Road, explaining how to use an e-scooter and how to register using a mobile phone app. Only the rental e-scooters involved in the trials can be used in public areas.

The scooters will operate from 6.30am until 10.30pm, seven days a week, and can only be used by people over 16 with a provisional or full driving licence. It costs £1 to unlock the e-scooter and 10p per minute thereafter using the Zipp Mobility App - https://apps.apple.com/ie/developer/zipp-mobility-limited/id1526255915

The Minehead trial is geo-fenced, which means the e-scooters will only work inside permitted areas, and maximum speed is just over 12mph.

Cllr Dixie Darch, district council executive member for climate change, said: “We are pleased to be able to launch this climate-friendly public transport in Minehead.

“Our emphasis will be on safety both for e-scooter users and the general public. We really hope that people will see the advantage of getting around town in a cleaner, greener way while being aware of and considerate to other road users and pedestrians.”

Richard McKiernan, traffic management officer at Avon and Somerset Police, said: “E-scooters are classed as a motor vehicle and even the trial ones can only be used by people over 16 with a provisional or full driving licence.”