SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, April 28 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The deployment of electric scooters for rent in Santa Cruz de Tenerife will kick off this Monday with the arrival of one hundred units from the company Tier Mobility. Over the next two weeks, Tier Mobility plans to distribute all the 646 scooters it has been authorised to operate. The initial batch of 100 scooters will be followed by additional ones until the full fleet allocation is met.
At the start of last month, the Mobility department awarded contracts to two companies, Tier Mobility and Ridedott, to operate a total of 1,292 VMPs (Electric Mobility Vehicles) for electric scooter rental services in Santa Cruz. Both companies are required to have a minimum of 50% of the designated fleet in operation within three months.
Mayor José Manuel Bermúdez stressed the importance of both companies and users adhering to regulations governing the use of personal mobility vehicles (VMP) to ensure high-quality service provision, prevent issues of overuse or misuse of public spaces, and minimise disruptions to residents. Users are also urged to operate these scooters responsibly, in accordance with traffic regulations and the municipal Mobility ordinance.
Mobility Councillor Evelyn Alonso outlined that the total number of scooters will be capped at 1,292 units and will be strategically located across the five districts, each with designated parking areas. Distribution will include nine parking spaces and 48 scooters in Anaga; 63 spaces and 448 scooters in Centro-Ifara; 43 spaces and 172 VMPs in Ofra-Costa Sur; 67 spaces and 392 scooters in Salud-La Salle, and 58 spaces with 232 VMPs in the Southwest. Additionally, a fee of 20,000 euros for public space usage, and a 50 euros deposit per scooter for data management, are stipulated for each operating company.
The councillor highlighted that Santa Cruz is now equipped with regulations like the Mobility Ordinance and Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (PMUS) to accommodate the rise of new personal transportation methods, promoting a more pedestrian-friendly and environmentally conscious city design to meet contemporary demands, including those of a European standard.
As for the rental service starting on Monday by Tier, the unlocking fee for a scooter will be one euro, with each minute of use billed at 0.22 euros. Local users will enjoy free scooter usage once residence verification is completed, although the verification process is still under consideration. Frequent users (with over 100 minutes per week) will receive discounts and other promotions via the app.
Tier Mobility has committed to running promotions to encourage sustainable and safe urban mobility in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, such as offering helmets to users and providing free or discounted vehicles for specific events. In times of level 3 air quality alerts, reduced rates or free unlockings will be implemented to promote the use of eco-friendly transport alternatives.