Nottingham’s e-scooter rental scheme is back with Dott as the new operator. Around 1,300 e-scooters are available across Nottingham as part of the government-backed trial. E-scooters offer convenient, fun, clean and affordable travel, reduce reliance on car trips and lower harmful emissions.
The e-scooter scheme initially began back in October 2020 to help ease travel worries during the COVID-19 pandemic and as part of a 12 month trial but has since been extended a few times and now plans to end in May 2026. The ongoing trial helps the Department for Transport (DfT) test the new form of transport to see how it works in practice and whether it could offer a greener way to travel in the future.
Although the trial e-scooters are permitted to be used on public roads and in the same space as cyclists, private e-scooters are still illegal to use on public land and must only be ridden on privately owned land. More information about private e-scooter safety can be found here.
How to hire an e-scooter
E-scooters are available to hire through Dott’s app which is available on the App Store for iPhone users or Google Play for android users.
Anyone wanting to hire an e-scooter must:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Hold a provisional or full driving licence
How do I use an e-scooter?
- Download the Dott app.
- Open the app and search for nearby e-scooters.
- Scan the QR code on the e-scooter to unlock it.
- Enjoy your ride, follow local regulations, use bike lanes where available, and do not ride on pavements.
- Reach your destination and “End Ride” in the app. Park correctly and make sure the vehicle is not obstructing others.
E-scooter operating area
The e-scooters are available to use within the Nottingham City boundary with the exception of a few areas which are shown in the map below.
Areas are ‘geofenced’ which allow the e-scooter to work only in certain areas. ‘No-go’ areas will not allow the vehicle to be used and ‘slow-go’ will reduce the speed in areas such as the city centre for the safety of riders and pedestrians.
Parking
E-scooters must be hired and returned neatly to the designated parking bays provided which are displayed in the app. Users are guided and instructed on where to leave e-scooters so that they do not cause obstruction to others. Users will be fined if found to have parked incorrectly and repeat offenders will be banned from using the service. The new service makes use of both old and new parking bays whilst some have infrastructure and are joint with the e-bike scheme. Overall, there are around 300 mandatory parking locations which will continue to grow over the scheme.
A number of innovations are available to encourage tidy parking such as parking caps to limit the number of vehicles which are allowed in a bay and incentives to encourage riders to use nearby parking bays which are under capacity.
There are different types of parking available:
| E-bike parking rack | E-bike parking bay | E-bike & e-scooter parking rack | E-bike & e-scooter parking bay | E-scooter parking rack | E-scooter parking bay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| These racks are specifically for the use of Lime e-bikes and should not be used to park e-scooters. E-bikes should be dropped off inside the rack at the end of your journey. If the rack is full please consider dropping off the e-bike at a nearby bay or rack instead. | These bays are specifically for the use of Lime e-bikes and should not be used to park e-scooters. E-bikes should be dropped off inside the bay at the end of your journey. If the bay is full please consider dropping off the e-bike at a nearby bay or rack instead. | These racks are for the use of both Lime e-bikes and Nottingham’s e-scooter hire vehicles. . E-scooters should be dropped off in the left hand side of the rack and e-bikes in the right hand side of the rack at the end of your journey. If the bay is full please consider dropping off at a nearby bay or rack instead. | These bays are for the use of both Lime e-bikes and Nottingham’s e-scooter hire vehicles. E-scooters should be dropped off on the left hand side of the bay and e-bikes on the right hand side of the bay at the end of your journey. If the bay is full please consider dropping off at a nearby bay or rack instead. | These racks are specifically for the use of Nottingham’s e-scooter hire vehicles and should not be used to park Lime e-bikes. E-scooters should be dropped off inside the rack at the end of your journey. If the rack is full please consider dropping off the e-scooter at a nearby bay or rack instead. | These bays are specifically for the use of Nottingham’s e-scooter hire vehicles and should not be used to park Lime e-bikes. E-scooters should be dropped off inside the bay at the end of your journey. If the bay is full please consider dropping off the e-scooter at a nearby bay or rack instead. |
Pricing
Dott operate using a pay-as-you-go (PAYG) model at 29p per minute or there are pass options available which can be found below.
Weekly
- Dott’s round trip pass: £3.99 for 2x30min rides in 24hr
Monthly
- Dott’s Flex: £2.99/month for unlimited £2 rides (30 min per ride then PAYG)
- Dott’s Pro: £14.99/month for unlimited £1 rides (30min each then PAYG)
Discounts are available for certain members of the community too. Please contact Dott if you are eligible for these discounts.
| Discount Group | PAYG Discounted Price |
|---|---|
| Community: Low-income and disabled | £0.14 PAYG |
| Scholars: students & staff in higher education | £0.20 PAYG |
| Heroes: NHS, military (active and veterans), and public sector workers | £0.14 PAYG |
| Elders: people at or above state pension age | £0.14 PAYG |
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the features of the e-scooters?
Dott’s e-scooters are kitted out with a number of different features to ensure the safe use of the vehicles:
- A double kickstand is attached so they are more stable.
- Tracking is on all of the vehicles and wheels lock if there is an attempt to take it out of the city boundary to reduce the opportunity for theft and vandalism.
- Status lights are visible to show if the vehicle is available to hire or not.
- They have a phone charger which has wireless charging.
- Number plates are visible on the back of the e-scooters as well as contact information on the handle.
- Pavement riding detection system will be piloted through the use of onboard cameras and tandem riding sensors will be trialled.
- The batteries are swappable, meaning that the e-scooters don’t need to be taken away to be charged.
Will there be any e-scooter training available?
A number of different education and training resources are available. Training events will be conducted by the Dott team as well as Bikeability experts which will make use of the ‘beginners mode’ available on the e-scooters which limits the speed to 8mph. Education modules are available on Dott’s app too with online modules showing the correct ways to conduct users whilst on the roads of Nottingham. Mandatory onboarding quizzes are present for a user’s first ride to explain how to hire and off-hire the vehicle. Mandatory training will be given to users who break rules.
What disciplinary process is in place for riders who break the rules?
There is a transparent user disciplinary process for any riders found to be contravening the rules and will be sanctioned with fines. Dott uses a 12-point process similar to the driving licence system so it’s easier to understand. Sanctions for the different offences which range between minor, major and severe have a proportionate fine as well as the number of offences that have occurred. The revenue from fines will fund Dott’s equitable access schemes.
How do I report an issue?
Please report any concerns about careless riding or parking, carrying passengers, underage riding, accidents, or damaged/abandoned rental e-scooters. It is really important that Dott understand any issues and deal with them promptly.
A 24-hour customer support line is in place to enable people to report issues. This is provided by multi-lingual agents and can be reported in the app on the chatbot or through emailing [email protected], or calling +44 800 048 89 93.
How much money has the council spent on this scheme?
The e-scooter trial comes at zero cost to Nottingham City Council as it is part of the Department for Transport’s (DfT) Future Transport Zone funding which is all about testing emerging technologies that could provide greener travel options in the future. The council will receive income through the contract that will support the ongoing contract management of the trial and reporting of the scheme to the DfT.
Do I need to wear a helmet when riding an e-scooter?
For your own safety you are strongly encouraged to wear a helmet whilst riding even though it’s not part of law in the UK. They are recommended within the Highway Code (see Rule 59).
How long will the e-scooters be in Nottingham?
Dott’s contract with Nottingham City Council is over a 5-year period. With the current government trials running until May 2026, a break clause has been included to end the scheme then should it be required. If the Government extend the trial or bring forward legislation, Nottingham City Council has the option to extend the contract in line with the 5-year deals to help cover any future extension periods.
Are there any job opportunities?
Dott are a Living Wage Employer and have recruited a local team that will oversee the operations to ensure the vehicles are maintained and kept safe. This includes patrols 24hrs a day to re-balance e-scooters, collect any that are abandoned or tipped over.
Are all e-scooters legal now?
No. Only e-scooters which are leased or hired as part of a local authority trial which has been authorised by the Department for Transport are legal to use. The use of privately-owned e-scooters on public land still remains illegal.
