In brief: A trial scheme launching at Liberation Station will allow people with mobility difficulties to rent scooters directly from Jersey’s main bus hub. The initiative brings together Shopmobility Jersey, LibertyBus, the Government of Jersey and several technology partners. It is open to both residents and visitors.
Scooters at the Station
Getting around St Helier just became a little easier for those who find walking difficult. The Jersey Evening Post reports that a new trial scheme will make mobility scooters available for hire directly at Liberation Station, giving people with mobility barriers a practical option right at the heart of the island’s public transport network.
Until now, the charity Shopmobility Jersey has operated its scooter lending service from its base at Sand Street car park. That arrangement works well enough if you arrive by car, but it has always presented something of a chicken-and-egg problem for bus users: you need to get to Sand Street before you can get a scooter to help you get around. The new scheme cuts out that detour entirely.
Edward Trevor, founder and chairman of Shopmobility Jersey, said he hoped the initiative “will enable people who might otherwise find travelling into St Helier difficult, due to limited parking or mobility barriers, to enjoy greater independence and access to the town.” He described it as “a unique initiative that brings together public transport, mobility support and technology in a practical way.”
How It Works
The process is straightforward. Users register with Shopmobility Jersey at scootermobility.rentals/register/ShopmobilityJersey, complete a short training session, and can then book and collect a scooter from Liberation Station during opening hours. The scheme is available to Jersey residents and visitors alike, which could prove particularly useful for tourists who arrive by ferry or coach and find the town’s terrain challenging.
Behind the scenes, the pilot is a collaboration involving Shopmobility Jersey, LibertyBus, IoT CI, the Government of Jersey’s Disability and Inclusion team, Electric Mobility, scooter manufacturer Rascal, and technology firm Teltonika. Between them, they have built everything from the booking platform to the fleet’s tracking system.
Dario Gentili, project manager for the government’s Disability and Inclusion team, said the project would bring mobility scooters “into the heart of Jersey’s public transport network” and “reduce practical barriers and create more opportunities for disabled Islanders and visitors to travel independently and participate fully in island life.”
A Nudge Away from the Car
There is a secondary benefit that LibertyBus director Kevin Hart is quietly optimistic about. He suggested the trial might encourage people who currently drive into town specifically to park at Shopmobility to take the bus instead, reducing both traffic and car dependency in St Helier. It is a modest ambition, but a sensible one: if the scooter is waiting for you at the bus stop, the car stays at home.
If the trial proves successful, Edward Trevor said it could be the first of several similar schemes, “subject to identifying suitable and secure locations.” The implication is clear: Liberation Station is the test case, and a positive outcome could see the model rolled out to other points around the island.
Source: Jersey Evening Post
