A PUBLIC meeting is set to be held to discuss the future of the e-scooter trial in Redditch.

Bird has been running the Government-sanctioned e-scooter trial since October 2020 which has been extended and widened since it originally launched to encourage more rides across the borough. 

The trial is currently set to run until March 31, 2024, but what happens after this date has yet to be decided with decisions from the Department of Transport expected in the coming months.

To ensure the trial continues to run smoothly for the remaining months and to allow residents to comment on the future of the scheme, a public event is scheduled to be held on June 28 at 6pm in the Council Chamber, Redditch Town Hall. 

Council officers and representatives from Bird will be in attendance to present the current position of the trial and will then open the floor for questions. 

A spokesperson for Bird said: “We are very proud to have provided a safe and clean mode of transport to the people living in Redditch, over the last few years and in close collaboration with the borough.

“The number of rides tends to prove that our e-scooters have become an important contribution to the transportation habits of the residents.

“We look forward to this opportunity to answer any questions and get feedback on our service.” 

Leader of the Council, Cllr Matt Dormer, said: “Redditch is committed to innovating and embracing new modes of transport and our partnership with Bird bringing e-scooters to residents has been a success over the past three years.

“We want to ensure it continues to be a success and welcome all residents and interested parties to attend the public meeting to hear more about plans for the remainder of the trial, to hear from our partners at Bird and ask any questions they may have.”