In the months before the 2nd lockdown, I was able to travel to the City Centre (when it was allowed), and occasionally saw the new Voi eScooters around. They are road legal, although some users did seem to ride them on pavements, or on pedestrianised roads. It's not just the official orange ones I've seen. Personal owned black eScooters have been seen all over the City as well.

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Voi eScooters around the City Centre


Voi eScooters around the City Centre


In the months before the 2nd lockdown, I was able to travel to the City Centre (when it was allowed), and occasionally saw the new Voi eScooters around. They are road legal, although some users did seem to ride them on pavements, or on pedestrianised roads. It's not just the official orange ones I've seen. Personal owned black eScooters have been seen all over the City as well.


Voi eScooter's

Voi Scooters users can download an app, and pay for the use of them. They are located all over Birmingham City Centre. Apparently anyone can use the, either a man in a suit or a student in jeans. They reduce noise and air pollution. They enable people to move freely in an urban environment.

There is a 6 month trial in Birmingham City Centre. I think they were to have a trial in Coventry but that was halted. I also found some none Voi eScooter's over in Redditch, Worcestershire.

After about a month, Voi put these pads on the handles, so that they can be cleaned after each use (due to the Pandemic and hand sanitising etc).

I wouldn't want to ride them myself, prefer to get the bus or train and walk.

 

12th September 2020 on the High Street (near lower Bull Street). Got my first photo of a Voi eScooter from my bus stop. Buses on the Stratford Road routes including the 2, 3, 5 and 6.

dndimg alt="Voi eScooter" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Voi eScooter High St Bham 12092020.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Earlier that day, I got a photo of a masked man riding an Voi eScooter through Centenary Square, outside of the Library of Birmingham.

dndimg alt="Voi eScooter" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Voi eScooter LoB Cent Sq 12092020.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

16th September 2020 in Victoria Square. Graham Young of the Birmingham Mail on a test ride, stop as another guy passes him. He later wrote an article for the Birmingham Live, which you can read here: What happened when we tried to ride a VOI scooter in Birmingham city centre

dndimg alt="Voi eScooter" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Voi eScooter Vic Sq 16092020.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

You can find him on Twitter: Graham Young.

dndimg alt="Voi eScooter" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Voi eScooter Vic Sq 16092020 GY.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

9th October 2020, heading down Hill Street, I spotted this eScooter. Close to Hinckley Street, and not far from Smallbrook Queensway. I was heading down to Southside to check out the latest B-Side Hip Hop street art.

dndimg alt="Voi eScooter" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Voi eScooter Hill St 09102020.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

On the 10th October 2020, saw this pair of Voi eScooter's near the bike racks on Eden Place. Close to Colmore Row and the Council House.

dndimg alt="Voi eScooters" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Voi eScooters Eden Place 10102020.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

11th October 2020 from Navigation Street outside of Birmingham New Street Station, saw this trio of three Voi eScooter's. Not far from the Stephenson Street entrance to the station. The day I was going to see Van Gogh Alive at the Birmingham Hippodrome. Had just come down from Grand Central Birmingham.

dndimg alt="Voi eScooter's" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Voi eScooters Nav St 11102020.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

25th October 2020 from the Bullring near St Martin's Church. This Voi eScooter at the corner of Edgbaston Street and St Martin's Lane.

dndimg alt="Voi eScooter" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Voi eScooter St Martins Bullring 25102020.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

2nd November 2020 in The Golden Square near Vyse Street in the Jewellery Quarter. Three Voi eScooter's, not far from the site of where the Jewellery Quarter Clock was until August 2020.

dndimg alt="Voi eScooters" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Voi eScooters Golden Sq JQ 02112020.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Bonus eScooter's in Redditch, Worcestershire

14th October 2020 a train trip to Redditch to see the John Bonham statue, when I saw some BIRD eScooter's in Redditch on Alcester Street. Similar in design to Voi, but a little different.

dndimg alt="Redditch eScooters" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Redditch eScooters 14102020 (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

There was three BIRD eScooter's outside of the Redditch Town Hall.

dndimg alt="Redditch eScooters" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Redditch eScooters 14102020 (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

It will probably not be until the 2nd lockdown is over that I will see more eScooter's around Birmingham. Unless I got out for a local walk, and see someone riding a black eScooter on the pavement (which is illegal, they should be ridden on the road).

I might be back in the City Centre week commencing 16th November 2020, for the first time in 2 weeks, so might see move Voi eScooter's when I'm in town.

 

Photos taken by Elliott Brown. Can be found on Twitter: ellrbrown.