Public Opinion on E-Scooter Trials in Major Welsh Cities

The two largest Welsh cities have expressed interest in conducting a trial of e-scooters. Councils in Cardiff and Swansea both indicated that such a trial would provide them with “the opportunity to explore” e-scooters as a potential substitute for the Nextbike program. The Nextbike scheme in Cardiff was discontinued following incidents of theft and vandalism. Should the trial prove successful, these Welsh cities would emulate Bristol and Bath, where e-scooters have been in operation since 2020. While Swansea council characterized the initiative as “very early days,” the prospect of e-scooters elicited varied reactions among residents in Cardiff. Helen Chandrinos, aged 59, stated: “I brought my grandchild to Cardiff and walking up and down with e-scooters going back and forth really fast was very dangerous.” She added, “On the weekends when it’s busy and they weave in and out, it is really hazardous. It would put me off coming into Cardiff.” Her husband, John, 53, commented: “Just look what happened to the [Nextbikes]. They ended up either in the river or stolen and the same thing is going to happen [with e-scooters]”. Conversely, students Hassan and Ali, both 18 years old, perceived no drawbacks to the introduction of e-scooters in Welsh urban areas. Ali remarked: “It would be good for the environment, and it’s helpful as a student. There’s not many buses and we’re usually late to classes, so it would help to get around quickly.” However, Gabriella Lake, 32, a resident of London, reported witnessing e-scooters being utilized in phone thefts, a growing issue in London and other major cities. She elaborated: “I steer clear of certain areas [in London] where I know e-scooters are popular. So if they came to Cardiff I would certainly be more aware, so it could potentially have a negative effect when visiting.” Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.