Voi is offering free rides to celebrate International Women's Day this Friday

In Voi’s latest UK survey, only 23% of riders identified as women and the company is keen to encourage more women to ride its scooters, as they do in other countries such as Finland, where 37% of Voi riders are women.

With that in mind, E-scooter company Voi is celebrating International Women’s Day by offering free rides to women to encourage them to use e-scooters.

Voi has been working through recommendations from a gender equity report the company commissioned from Women in Transport, which found that women were put off riding e-scooters because of road infrastructure and drivers’ attitudes.

The company continues to lobby for improved infrastructure such as dedicated cycle lanes and better road quality.

At the same time, the company has used feedback from women riders to make improvements to scooters including altering the layout and size of handlebars to make it easier for women, who typically have smaller hands, to more easily use the bell, brakes and indicators.

Other Voi research has found that one in five women felt safer scooting than walking at night.

To celebrate International Women’s Day, on 8 March, the company is offering new women riders 15 minutes of free riding on Voi e-scooters or e-bikes from 4 March to 4 April, using the code WOMEN. Videos featuring women riders will be published on the company’s UK social media channels through the week from 4 March.

Christy Pearson, head of central policy at Voi, said: “E-scooters are a great way to get around for anybody. We are keen to encourage women to try out our e-scooters and find out for themselves that they’re great for short journeys, whether it be as part of your commute or to meet friends.”

New riders are encouraged to complete Voi’s online scooter skills training Ride Safe Academy at ridesafe.voi.com and to sign up for the company’s scooter skills webinars due to start next month by searching for Eventbrite forthcoming Voi UK events.

To use a Voi scooter, download the app and follow the instructions to set up an account. Riders are advised to wear a helmet.

The e-scooters are available in Cambridge, Cheltenham, Corby, Gloucester, Kettering, Liverpool, London, Northampton, Oxford, Portsmouth, Rushden and Higham Ferrers, Southampton, and Wellingborough.