Celebrate International Women’s Day by riding e-scooters for free
A woman riding a Voi e-scooter CREDIT Voi
Video of women riders talking about why they like e-scooters and what journeys they use them for.
E-scooter company Voi is celebrating International Women’s Day by offering free rides to women to encourage them to use e-scooters.
In the company’s latest UK survey, only 23% of riders identified as women and the company is keen to encourage more women to ride its scooters, as they do in other countries such as Finland, where 37% of Voi’s riders are women.
Voi has been working through recommendations from a gender equity report the company commissioned from Women in Transport, which found that women were put off riding e-scooters because of road infrastructure and drivers’ attitudes.
The company continues to lobby for improved infrastructure such as dedicated cycle lanes and better road quality.
At the same time, the company has used feedback from women riders to make improvements to scooters including altering the layout and size of handlebars to make it easier for women, who typically have smaller hands, to more easily use the bell, brakes and indicators.
Other Voi research has found that one in five women felt safer scooting than walking at night.
To celebrate International Women’s Day, on 8 March, Voi is offering new women riders 15 minutes of free riding on Voi e-scooters or e-bikes from 4 March to 4 April, using the code WOMEN. Videos featuring women riders will be published on the company’s UK social media channels through the week from 4 March.
Christy Pearson, head of central policy at Voi, said: “E-scooters are a great way to get around for anybody. We are keen to encourage women to try out our e-scooters and find out for themselves that they’re great for short journeys, whether it be as part of your commute or to meet friends.”
New riders are encouraged to complete Voi’s online scooter skills training Ride Safe Academy at ridesafe.voi.com and to sign up for the company’s scooter skills webinars due to start next month by searching for Eventbrite forthcoming Voi UK events.
To use a Voi scooter, download the app and follow the instructions to set up a Voi account. Riders are advised to wear a helmet.
Voi e-scooters are available in Cambridge, Cheltenham, Corby, Gloucester, Kettering, Liverpool, London, Northampton, Oxford, Portsmouth, Rushden and Higham Ferrers, Southampton, and Wellingborough.
Ends
For further information, please contact:
Juliette Maxam, Senior PR manager, Voi UK, Ireland and France
juliette.maxam@voiapp.io
About Voi
Founded in 2018, Voi is a Swedish micromobility company offering e-scooter and e-bike sharing in partnership with towns, cities and local communities. We believe e-scooters can play a central role in changing how people move in our towns and cities in the future. We want to ensure that the micromobility transformation happens the right way - through real innovative technology, open and transparent dialogue with towns, cities and governments and by adapting our products to local needs. Voi’s holistic Environmental Action Plan tackles emissions and promotes renewable energy use and circularity along its supply chain.
Voi operates in over 100 towns and cities across 12 countries. It is headquartered in Stockholm and employs 1,000 people. To date, Voi boasts more than seven million riders and has served more than 150+ million rides.
