Voi hits record e-scooter rides in Birmingham during Commonwealth Games 

Micromobility operator Voi has released its ridership figures from Birmingham during the 2022 Commonwealth Games – a record 66,000 journeys in just 12 days. 

Taking place between Thursday, 28th July and Monday, 8th August, the Commonwealth Games saw people from across the UK and around the world descend on the West Midlands to watch 21 sporting disciplines. 

Swedish shared e-bike and e-scooter brand Voi said that an extra 10,000 e-scooter journeys were made compared to the same period before the games (16th-27th July) – an 18% increase, as spectators travelled to venues and explored the city via shared transport. 

A total of 26,000 car journeys were also replaced by e-scooter trips, according to Voi, saving around 15 tonnes of carbon emissions. 

Matthew Pencharz, head of policy at Voi UK and Ireland, said: “Birmingham delivered a spectacular games and we are delighted to have made our contribution in helping tens of thousands of people get to the venues conveniently and sustainably.

“Today’s figures show how people are willing to adopt e-scooters and micromobility in general, especially when the right infrastructure is in place. Moreover, the success at the Games shows how e-scooters can easily be integrated with public transport when major events take place.” 

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Voi’s partnership with Transport for West Midlands and Birmingham City Council enabled convenient parking hubs to be located at all the major venues of the games across the city, including Alexander Stadium, the University of Birmingham, and Smithfields, to maximise the accessibility of the service.

According to Voi data, thousands of people parked or scooted to or from these hubs.  

Voi has recently doubled its operating area in Birmingham, also becoming a 24-hour, seven-day per week service. 

The brand currently operates in 100 towns and cities across 11 countries. It is headquartered in Stockholm and employs 1,000 people.