An operator is being sought for an e-scooters trial across the West of England after the scheme was extended for a further two years.
More than 280,000 people have used the transport devices to make six million journeys across the region since the trial began in 2020.
The West of England Combined Authority (WECA) has now issued a market notice to invite a single or group of companies to bid for the new contract, which will also cover the provision of e-bikes and e-cargo bikes.
The original contract with current operator Voi is set to expire, but it has been agreed the Swedish tech firm will continue to run scooters until the new deal is in place, which is anticipated to be in late spring of next year.
West of England metro mayor Dan Norris said the uptake of the scooters had seen some “notable successes”, there had also been some “challenges, including on safety”.
Mr Norris said: “I back schemes that encourage people to leave the car behind and help us to meet our ambitious net-zero targets. I would very much like to encourage providers to now come forward and explain how they would provide a reliable, safe and affordable service for West of England residents.”
A spokesperson for WECA said there “wouldn’t be anything precluding Voi from bidding” as part of the upcoming tender process. Voi said it welcomed WECA's decision to issue the notice, and confirmed it would be applying for the tender.
Matthew Pencharz, head of policy at Voi UK and Ireland, said: “Over the last two years, Voi has pioneered micromobility in Bristol, Bath and South Gloucestershire by working closely with local councils, riders, and other stakeholders to help the scheme become not only one of the most successful e-scooter services in Europe but be a safe, affordable and convenient one for all.
“Once the full details of the tender are announced in due course we will examine in close detail how our vision and expertise from operating in the UK and Europe’s biggest cities can help the region on its path to a low-carbon future and create better places for living.”
Earlier this year, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Mr Norris warned Voi he would have a "tough decision to make" on whether the business could continue to operate e-scooters in Bristol and Bath once its current contract was up, if the firm had not ended ties with its Russian shareholders.
The boss and founder of Voi, Fredrk Hjelm, held talks in Bristol with Mr Norris in April, and said he would do "all that I can" to get the investors to part with their shares - thought to amount to a roughly 4% stake in the company, and acquired years before Vladimir Putin's regime invaded Ukraine in February.
When approached by BusinessLive, Voi confirmed on Wednesday (November 2) it had removed these investors from the company as their shares have been sold, pending administrative confirmation.
According to Voi’s website none of the shareholders identified in reports, including businessmen Ilya Yushevaev and Alexander Eliseev, have been named on any nation’s list of ‘sanctioned’ Russian oligarchs.
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