A FREE training session to educate people on the safe use of e-scooters is being held in Minehead tomorrow (Friday, Apri l).

Somerset West and Taunton Council and operator Zipp Mobility are running the event, supported by the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB).

The emphasis will be on safety with riders being made aware of and considerate towards other road users and pedestrians, particularly blind and partially sighted pedestrians.

Steve Hyde, RNIB’s regional campaigns officer for South West England, will be at Minehead Railway Station at 1pm to give a presentation on various eye conditions and the different types of canes available, with a demonstration on how they are used.

He will then host a blindfold walk from the station and up The Avenue towards Wellington Square, where representatives from SWT and Zipp Mobility will be holding the training event and answering questions between 12noon and 2pm.

Anyone who attends and registers a new account will receive a £5 credit for a test drive but will need a driving licence and bank card to verify their account.

The Minehead trial currently has 40 e-scooters located across the town at 27 parking bays.

Since it was launched in June last year, it has seen almost 17,000 rides by more than 6,200 riders, who have travelled almost 27,000 miles, removing an estimated 3.7 tonnes of carbon from the atmosphere compared to a fossil fuel powered vehicle.

The e-scooters offer a cleaner, greener way to get around in line with SWT’s commitment to working towards achieving carbon neutrality and climate resilience by 2030.

Bay numbers have increased since the launch with requests for additional bays from local businesses wanting a one close to their premises for commuting staff and visitors.

The Zipp e-scooters operate from 5.30am until 10.30pm seven days a week and can only be used by people over the age of 16 with a provisional or full driving licence.

It costs £1 to unlock the e-scooter and 15p per minute thereafter using the Zipp Mobility App.

The trial in Minehead is geofenced, meaning e-scooters will only work inside permitted areas.

The maximum speed in the trial is just over 15.5mph and there are some slower zones within the trial area too.

For more information on the training session contact info@zippmobility.com