The first regulated e‑scooters for hire in Brighton & Hove will be available from Friday 24 July, the council has confirmed, marking the start of a citywide trial aimed at offering a legal alternative to privately owned devices.
Phased rollout and where to find them
Initially, 100 Beryl e‑scooters will be deployed across 20 phase one hubs. Dedicated racks are being installed at key locations including the seafront, the city centre and both Brighton and Hove railway stations. The rollout will continue through the summer:
- Phase 1: 100 scooters at 20 hubs
- Phase 2: expanding to 300 scooters across 34 hubs
- Phase 3: consultation on at least 18 further sites
Who can hire and how
Scooters will be available through the Beryl app, which also outlines how to find and use the vehicles. The trial includes targeted support: the scheme offers free minute bundles for jobseekers and recipients of Universal Credit, a measure the council says is intended to help people access work and keep travel costs down.
“This is very exciting for Brighton & Hove. E‑scooters are a convenient and enjoyable way for people to get around and have been shown to have both mental and physical health benefits... A properly controlled and regulated trial means the city now offers a safe and legal alternative to illegal e‑scooters.”
The remark above is from Councillor Trevor Muten, cabinet member for Transport and City Infrastructure, who linked the trial to efforts to reduce congestion and improve air quality.
Rules, restrictions and safety
The trial will operate with a set of operational controls. There will be dedicated no‑go and go‑slow zones, along with night‑time curfews on both weekdays and weekends to manage use in sensitive areas and at sensitive times. The council stressed that the use of private e‑scooters remains illegal, and the trial provides a legal, regulated option for hire instead.
Brighton & Hove will now join more than 50 towns and cities across the UK running e‑scooter trials as local authorities test whether shared electric micromobility can replace short car journeys and integrate with public transport.
| Phase | Scooters | Hubs |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 100 | 20 |
| 2 | 300 | 34 |
| 3 | Consultation on additional sites | At least 18 sites |
For practical information, residents and visitors are advised to download the Beryl app to see availability, pricing and the location of racks. The council's published guidance will set out precise boundaries for restricted zones and the hours of curfew once the trial is under way.
As the trial progresses this summer, local campaigners, commuters and people who run businesses along busy routes will be watching how well the scheme eases congestion, affects pavement space and interacts with existing cycling and pedestrian infrastructure.
