Zipp Mobility, the new provider of an e-scooter scheme in the town, will be hosting a launch event for residents to give them a try.
It will be happening outside Slough train station, on the large section of pavement close to Tesco on Tuesday 28 May from 10.30am-12.30pm, where there will be five scooters to try for 10-minute slots.
Before attending, users will need to download the Zipp app and create an account and register with their driving licence.
Residents can find out how the scooters work, learn about their safety features, give them a try and ask questions.
The scooters have a top speed of 15.5mph, in compliance with government regulations. Though no helmets come with the scooters, riders are encouraged to wear their own.
To prevent underage use, riders must verify their age and identity during the sign-up process by providing a driver’s licence and photo.
Additionally, the Zipp team will regularly monitor for any misuse of the scooters, they’ll have field technicians maintaining the fleet daily and robust tracking processes to identify misuse.
The cost to hire will be £1 to unlock a scooter, and then £0.20 for each minute of the journey. There will also be daily and weekly passes for regular users.
Scooters must be returned to designated bays. Failure to do so will mean the journey will be classed as ongoing and the charges will continue until it is returned to an approved bay.
Savio DeCruz, AD Operations, Regeneration, Housing and Environment, said: “These e-scooters and e-bikes will provide another method of travel for residents. The aim is to have them spread throughout Slough so people can easily access them.
“The sign-up process is simple, and the app displays real-time availability of scooters in your area and provides essential safety rules and guidelines for riding.
“Please be mindful of other road users and do not ride scooters on the pavements.”
There will be up to 300 scooters distributed across Slough for rental. Initially, there will be 60 parking bays to optimise scooter availability and convenience. These will be clearly marked with a painted square, and shown on the Zipp app.
The scooters are equipped with ‘always on’ lights for enhanced visibility, they are bright yellow, have brake lights and a horn.
Zipp scooters are covered by third-party motor vehicle insurance to provide peace of mind to riders and pedestrians alike.
Riders are covered under Rider Liability Insurance, which protects them against damages to third parties. They are also covered under Zipp’s Personal Accident insurance.
When renting an e-scooter, a rider is bound by the same rules as if driving a car. So, it is against the law to use the service under the influence of drugs or alcohol, you cannot ride on footpaths or pavements, you cannot have more than one person on a scooter at a time and you cannot rent a scooter on behalf of someone underage.
Reports of misconduct will be taken seriously and Zipp may impose penalties or suspend accounts for riders found in violation of their terms of service.
Residents will begin seeing the scooters in their bays from today (Wednesday), ahead of the official launch.