New project will enable disabled people in Salford to use e-scooters and e-bikes

A groundbreaking project aimed at boosting the use of e-scooters and e-bikes by disabled people will be hosted in Salford.

The year-long initiative, to be delivered by Cycling UK, is being led by the UK’s shared transport charity, Collaborative Mobility UK (CoMoUK), and grant-funded by the Motability Foundation.

It aims to support disabled people to access flexible, sustainable modes of transport without making any changes to current vehicles.

After inviting bids earlier this year, CoMoUK will partner with Cycling UK, Salford City Council, and micromobility operator Lime and Beryl to deliver the project.

The initiative will build on recent research conducted by CoMoUK and the Research Institute for Disabled Consumers, which was also grant-funded by the Motability Foundation.

It found that disabled people face significant barriers to using shared micromobility services, over and above the design of the vehicles themselves. These include low confidence in using the services, a lack of awareness about how to find and book them, and the incompatibility of apps with other assistive technology. It also found that only 10 percent of disabled people have used shared micromobility services, despite over half believing they could improve their lives.

The new project will be delivered by Cycling UK in Salford, where shared micromobility schemes involving e-scooters and e-bikes are already run by Lime and Beryl.

The UK’s leading cycling charity already has a hub at the University of Salford with easy access to local green spaces such as Peel Park and also runs its Inclusive Cycling Experience across Greater Manchester, offering disabled people free try-out sessions and non-standard cycle loans.

James Scott, the director of behaviour change and development at Cycling UK, said: “We are proud to be supporting a project which aims to break down barriers to cycling, opening up the benefits of shared micromobility to disabled people in Salford and beyond.

“We know that cycling, in all its forms, can be a powerful tool for independence, health, and freedom – but too often, disabled people are excluded from the opportunities it provides.

“Through this initiative, we will build on our longstanding commitment to inclusive cycling by providing training, confidence-building sessions, and easy access to non-standard and electric cycles.

“Our work in Salford and Greater Manchester has already shown how transformational cycling can be when it’s made accessible.

“Now, working alongside CoMoUK, Salford City Council, Lime, and Beryl, we’re excited to help shape a more inclusive transport future – one that empowers disabled people to travel flexibly, confidently, and sustainably.”

During the project, three cohorts of disabled participants will take part in a series of activities including travel training, skills and confidence sessions, and led bike rides. Those taking part will have the opportunity to try both Lime e-scooters and Starling Bank e-bikes run by Beryl, using a range of digital tools to support their use of apps and navigation.

Both operators have agreed to provide disabled participants with free access to their vehicles during the sessions through a code that can be used on their digital apps. Each phase of the project will be followed by a review period, allowing the approach taken to be refined and improved based on feedback received from participants.

Richard Dilks, the chief executive of CoMoUK, commented: “We are excited that this groundbreaking project is now rapidly taking shape, with the location confirmed along with a consortium of key delivery partners.

“The bid from Cycling UK, Salford City Council, Lime and Beryl was excellent and we are confident that together they will produce a really valuable programme. Through this work, we want to directly address some of the barriers facing disabled people who want to use shared micromobility services in their area.

“Our research shows that inaccessible vehicle designs are not the only issue, but a lack of awareness and confidence when it comes to using shared e-scooters and e-bikes too. We know that such schemes have the potential to be transformative, improving people’s health, cutting road congestion and air pollution, and freeing up space in cities.

“It is crucial that nobody is left behind as the UK embraces these sustainable forms of transport, and we hope this project will ultimately help to increase shared micromobility use by disabled people.”

Harry Fisher, innovation manager at the Motability Foundation, added: “It’s great to have the delivery partners in place for this innovative project, and we’re now looking forward to activities getting underway.

“We know from the recent research we commissioned that disabled people think micromobility services have the potential to improve their lives, but very few have tried them for themselves.

“Through this project, we aim to support disabled people to access these services, including providing the training they need so they can use them with confidence.”

Last year, CoMoUK was commissioned by the Motability Foundation to take part in two projects on disabled people and their use of shared transport. One investigated how shared micromobility schemes such as e-scooters and e-bikes could be made more inclusive.

The resulting report, ‘Raising the Bar’, was led by the Research Institute for Disabled Consumers alongside CoMoUK. It found that more than half of disabled people believe such services could improve their lives but that more work is needed to improve accessibility and safety.

Those who had tried a shared micromobility scheme were significantly more likely to view them positively, with 70 percent feeling confident in their use.

Potential benefits identified by those surveyed included greater access to outdoor activities, the fact that it was a sustainable travel option, and the ability to travel spontaneously.

The other project, which CoMoUK is delivering in partnership with transport research consultancy TRL, is examining the barriers facing disabled people in accessing car clubs.